The former Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister under the previous government, Charles Owiredu, has raised doubts about whether Ghana’s latest communiqué to all embassies and high commissions regarding visa applications will be acknowledged.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a communique to all foreign embassies and high commissions in the country, appealing to them to provide humane conditions at the various mission offices for visa applicants who visit them.
The ministry is taking remedial measures to address public complaints about the treatment of Ghanaian citizens visiting foreign missions for visa applications.
”The complaints address problems like inadequate waiting spaces, emergency services not being available, lengthy waiting times for appointments, and difficulties utilising websites for visa applications,” the statement said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it plans to ensure embassies and high commissions adhere to directives in the Note Verbale, while acknowledging their discretion in issuing visas.
But Charles Owuridu expressed concerns that Ghana’s diplomatic communication to embassies may be easily overlooked.
The Abirem MP and Ghana’s former High Commissioner to South Africa acknowledges visa application center challenges like long queues and inhumane treatment, but suggests a Note Verbale alone may not be sufficient.
”The former administration’s approach was engagement because, as the minister just stated, verbally delivering a message does not resolve this issue because, as we all know, the Vienna Convention covers embassies and consular operations. They’ll simply place it somewhere. As I mentioned before, I thought that getting the minister to engage them was the best course of action. Thus, in my opinion, an interaction would have resolved the issue,” he stated.
The 2024 Afrobarometer report shows that six out of ten Ghanaians are considering leaving the country to improve their economic circumstances.
The increasing demand for travel agencies and visa application centers has led to a focus on processing inflows, often leading to potential abuse of applicants.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a communique as the initial step in a series of government interventions aimed at sanitizing the sector and ensuring fair treatment for applicants.
