Ablakwa Inspects Over 20 Embassies and Visa Centres in Accra
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, has inspected more than 20 embassies and visa application centres in Accra as part of efforts to improve conditions for Ghanaians seeking visas. The visits allowed him to assess the facilities and engage directly with applicants about their experiences. Mr Ablakwa said the observations would guide his upcoming engagements with Heads of Missions, building on an earlier meeting with diplomatic missions during his first month in office, when he called for shorter appointment waiting times, better arrangements and greater attention to the dignity and welfare of Ghanaian applicants.
The Minister said the latest inspection showed that while some diplomatic missions had made significant progress, others still needed to improve. “I must acknowledge that substantial progress has been made by some missions; however, others must do more,” he said in an X post. Mr Ablakwa also reiterated that Ghana would not interfere with the authority of foreign missions to decide who qualifies for their visas. “It is the prerogative of diplomatic missions to determine who qualifies for their visas; I shall not interfere with that,” he said, stressing that the government’s concern is with the conditions under which applications are processed, rather than the decisions themselves. He is expected to take the findings from the inspection into his Ablakwa Inspects Over 20 Embassies and Visa Centres in Accra
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, has inspected more than 20 embassies and visa application centres in Accra as part of efforts to improve conditions for Ghanaians seeking visas. The visits allowed him to assess the facilities and engage directly with applicants about their experiences. Mr Ablakwa said the observations would guide his upcoming engagements with Heads of Missions, building on an earlier meeting with diplomatic missions during his first month in office, when he called for shorter appointment waiting times, better arrangements and greater attention to the dignity and welfare of Ghanaian applicants.
The Minister said the latest inspection showed that while some diplomatic missions had made significant progress, others still needed to improve. “I must acknowledge that substantial progress has been made by some missions; however, others must do more,” he said in an X post. Mr Ablakwa also reiterated that Ghana would not interfere with the authority of foreign missions to decide who qualifies for their visas. “It is the prerogative of diplomatic missions to determine who qualifies for their visas; I shall not interfere with that,” he said, stressing that the government’s concern is with the conditions under which applications are processed, rather than the decisions themselves. He is expected to take the findings from the inspection into his forthcoming engagements with Heads of Missions.forthcoming engagements with Heads of Missions.
