Ablakwa inspects visa centres, calls for better treatment of Ghanaian applicants

Story by: Regina Bless

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has undertaken a working visit to more than 20 embassies and visa application centres to assess the conditions Ghanaian visa applicants face during the application process.

The visit gave the Minister an opportunity to observe the situation firsthand and engage directly with Ghanaian applicants about their experiences, including concerns surrounding long waiting periods, appointment delays and arrangements at some visa centres.

Following the tour, Ablakwa said he would engage Heads of Missions in the coming days to discuss his findings and observations, with the aim of working with the diplomatic missions to improve conditions for Ghanaian applicants.

The Minister noted that during his first month in office, he had already engaged diplomatic missions and urged them to protect the dignity and welfare of Ghanaian visa applicants. He also called for measures to address lengthy appointment waiting times and ensure applicants are adequately protected from exposure to harsh weather conditions while waiting.

According to Ablakwa, some diplomatic missions have made substantial progress in improving conditions, but others still need to take further steps.

He stressed that while diplomatic missions retain the authority to determine who qualifies for their visas, his intervention is focused on ensuring that Ghanaian applicants are treated with dignity throughout the visa application process.

The working visit forms part of the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s efforts to engage diplomatic missions on concerns affecting Ghanaians seeking visas and to promote improved service conditions at visa application centres.