The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has strongly called on foreign diplomatic missions in Ghana to improve their treatment of visa applicants.
Speaking on the Ministry’s communication to these missions, he emphasized that Ghana will not accept conditions that undermine the dignity and rights of its citizens.
The Minister highlighted that the lack of adequate waiting areas for visa applicants at some foreign embassies in Ghana as one of the major problem facing the applicants.
“I have personally visited some of these locations after receiving petitions from Ghanaians, and I have seen the ordeal applicants go through.
They are left standing in the scorching sun or heavy rain with no shelter. This is unacceptable,” Ablakwa stated.
He made it clear that the government will not tolerate such treatment moving forward.
“We all share values of international good governance, and this kind of treatment does not align with those principles. Visa applicants deserve a conducive environment where they can wait for their turn in dignity,” he added.
Another major issue highlighted was the long waiting time for visa appointments. Ablakwa noted that some applicants have to wait for six months, a year, or even longer just to get an appointment.
In some cases, individuals facing medical or emergency situations have had to travel outside Ghana to secure a slot.
“We are asking ourselves at the Foreign Affairs Ministry: why is it that some foreign embassies in Ghana take so long to schedule appointments, yet in other countries with larger populations, the same embassies process appointments within days?” he questioned.
While acknowledging that the decision to grant visas remains the sovereign right of each country, he stressed that applicants should at least be given appointments within a reasonable timeframe.
The Minister reiterated that the Ghanaian government will not compromise on these issues and expects foreign missions to take immediate action.
He urged them to conduct internal assessments and ensure that Ghanaian applicants are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.
His remarks reflect growing frustration among Ghanaians over the difficulties in obtaining visas, and it remains to be seen how diplomatic missions in Ghana will respond to these concerns.
Story by Freedom Lavoe.
