The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will seek clarity from the US government on its latest directive on the allocation of US visas to top Ghanaian officials on non-official visits, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the sector minister has said. According to her, the government will take a decisive decision on the matter after it gets the full … Read more
Former presidents, lawmakers and senior government officials in Ghana will no longer have special privileges for private travel to the United States, Washington’s envoy has said. Until now, such individuals were able to take advantage of “protocol services” where they did not have to physically appear at the US embassy to obtain a visa. But … Read more
Former presidents, high profile officers and Members of Parliament seeking visas for personal travels to the United States will now be required to make personal appearance at the US Embassy to acquire them. In a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, the US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Porter Jackson, told the Committee that … Read more
The United States government has withdrawn protocol visa allocation to top Ghanaian government officials including Members of Parliament and former Presidents on non-official visits. Per the directive, the officials have the option of booking a private appointment or join the queue of countless Ghanaians who seek US visas on a daily basis. Explaining his outfit’s … Read more
The Ethiopian Main Department for Immigration and Nationality Affairs, in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines, has finalised preparations for the commencement of the initial phase of an e-visa service for international visitors to Ethiopia. A statement issued in Accra by Mrs Hanna Atnafu, the Manager of Corporate Communications, Ethiopian Airlines, said the service took effect from … Read more
The United States Embassy in Accra has explained the 63 Ghanaians deported from the US to Ghana Wednesday morning was based on the orders of an immigration judge. “U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed 63 Ghanaian nationals to Ghana and 12 Liberian nationals to Liberia in accordance with their final orders of removal,” … Read more
New Zealand’s main opposition party Monday announced plans to almost halve immigration numbers if it wins a September election, with the clampdown focused on international students. Labour Party leader Andrew Little said it was “time for a breather on immigration” in the nation, which has experienced record annual net arrivals of about 70,000 in recent … Read more
The Trump administration has approved plans to ask US visa applicants for details of their social media use. Consular officials can now ask for social media usernames going back five years via a new questionnaire. It also allows authorities to request email addresses, phone numbers and 15 years of biographical information. This can be requested … Read more
The United States has begun asking some would-be visitors applying for visas to provide their identities on social media, among other more vigorous screening methods. A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP new security procedures had gone into effect on May 25 for travelers deemed to present a risk. In a … Read more
Warning Ghanaians to leave Saudi Arabia is not the solution Over 500 Ghanaians are expected to be repatriated from Saudi Arabia this year I think the authorities in Ghana and Saudi’s counterpart are missing the critical issue with regards to Ghanaians being maltreated in the Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, as slaves in disguise. Some … Read more
The former Member of Parliament for the Asunafo South constituency in the Brong Ahafor Region, George Boakye has said the UK High Commissioner has failed to prove that he was indeed involved in any form of visa fraud. The High Commission accused George Boakye and three other sitting MPs of engaging in various forms of … Read more
I sent e-mails to two prominent journalists to do a story about the frustrations of the Ghanaian passport holder in travelling within Africa and the world. I thought they would tell my story for me. I have waited for weeks but I have not received even the courtesy of acknowledgement of mail. Remembering the citizen … Read more
Former Member of Parliament for Asunafo South Constituency George Boakye is seeking clarification from the British High Commission over a ‘visa fraud’ case he is cited in. According to the ex-New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP, he was not engaged in any fraudulent act as it appears painted in the letter written by British High Commissioner … Read more
It appears calls for refund for bounced visas by Embassies operating in Ghana may not be heeded anytime soon as some Embassies have already squashed the possibility of refunds. The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has renewed pressure for the embassies to review their visa policies. It describes the development as an infringement on the rights … Read more
The fate of illegal Ghanaian immigrants in America remains on the balance as the US embassy to Ghana is predicting more deportations in the coming weeks. So far, hundreds of Ghanaians have suffered deportation from the United States with others feared to have been behind jailed by law enforcement following the toughened immigration laws since … Read more
The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) is calling on President Nana Akufo-Addo to take steps to ensure that “unfair” treatment meted out to Ghanaians who wish to travel to the UK ends. The Executive Director of the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), Kofi Kapito, argued that the British High Commission was not refunding applicants’ fees when they … Read more
The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) is threatening a demonstration should government refuse to address issues of unfair treatment meted out to Ghanaians at the various embassies within twenty one working days. The CPA also wants huge visa fees charged Ghanaians to be refunded to them if they are refused Visas by the embassies. Citing various … Read more
The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) is calling on President Nana Akufo-Addo to take steps to ensure that “unfair” treatment meted out to Ghanaians who wish to travel to the UK ends. The Executive Director of the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), Kofi Kapito, argued that the British High Commission was not refunding applicants’ fees when they … Read more
Contrary to the perception that the US makes it difficult for Ghanaians who wish to travel to that country to do so, the US Embassy in Ghana has stated that Ghanaians are welcome but should use the right processes to obtain visas. Press Attaché Sarah Veldhuizen Stealey explained: “We want Ghanaians to travel to the … Read more
A total of 774 Ghanaians were deported from abroad last year as against 1,278 in 2015 for committing various offences. The offences included illegal entry, possession of fake travelling documents, overstaying and working without permit. The countries they were from are Saudi Arabia, 291; United States, 74; United Kingdom and Kuwait, both 44 and Germany, … Read more