Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is set to engage ambassadors and high commissioners over conditions facing Ghanaians applying for visas, following a working tour of more than 20 embassies and visa application centres.
The Minister’s tour conducted on Monday, October 5, allowed him to assess the situation first-hand and speak directly with Ghanaian applicants about their experiences. He is expected to present his findings to diplomatic missions in the coming days and seek further improvements.
The planned engagement marks a follow-up to an intervention initiated during his first month as Foreign Affairs Minister, when the Ministry raised concerns with foreign missions about the treatment of Ghanaian visa applicants.
In February 2025, the Ministry issued a Note Verbale to embassies and high commissions in Ghana urging them to provide appropriate and humane conditions at visa centres. The concerns at the time included inadequate waiting areas, long delays in securing appointment dates, limited emergency services and difficulties accessing some visa application websites.
Ablakwa noted that the latest tour had shown progress following the previous engagement, with some of the concerns earlier raised having been addressed. However, he said a number of issues remained outstanding and would require further attention from the affected missions.
“I must acknowledge that substantial progress has been made by some missions, however, others must do more,” he noted.
He has also stressed that the Ghanaian government is not seeking to interfere with the sovereign authority of foreign missions to determine who qualifies for a visa.
“As I have always emphasised, it is the prerogative of diplomatic missions to determine who qualifies for their visas, I shall not interfere with that. Nonetheless, they must take concrete steps to ensure the dignity of Ghanaians is safeguarded,” he added.
The issue has remained a recurring concern for Ghanaian travellers, particularly where applicants face lengthy waits for appointments or are required to spend extended periods outside application centres.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry’s February 2025 intervention followed complaints from members of the public about conditions at several foreign missions. At the time, the Ministry noted it would continue monitoring compliance with its request for improved conditions.
The Minister has also been involved in discussions with the United States over immigrant visas, indicating in September that Ghana had made significant progress in negotiations with Washington over restrictions affecting Ghanaian applicants.
The forthcoming meetings with ambassadors and high commissioners will therefore provide an opportunity for the Ministry to review the improvements made since its 2025 intervention and push for further changes where concerns persist.
Related Posts
