Ex-presidents, MPs, Ministers to queue for visas – US Ambassador
Former Presidents and Members of Parliament are expected to join
the queue like ordinary Ghanaians when applying for US visas for their
private visits.
This is because the US embassy has withdrawn courtesies which were
hitherto extended to officials in the country on such visits to their
country.
This was announced by the United States Ambassador to Ghana Robert
Jackson when he appeared before the Foreign Affairs Committee of
Parliament on Thursday 22 June, 2017.
Mr Jackson told parliament the embassy would process visas for
officials travelling for government business within 48 hours of receipt
of their passports from the Protocol Office of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs but officials travelling on private business will have to go
through the process like any ordinary citizen.
“Now if you are travelling for tourism or business that is not
related to government business, you will need to make a personal
appearance. I want to reiterate, for official travel, protocol officers
pass the passports for visa applications through the foreign ministry
and the foreign ministry’s protocol officers bring it to us. But for
personal travel, every person is required to make a personal appearance,
even former presidents of Ghana have to come in for personal
appearance,” he stated.
It is unclear what triggered this latest diplomatic action by the
embassy, but Class News sources say some officials abused the previous
arrangement.
This comes after the British High Commission accused four MPs of flouting the country’s visa regulations.
Credit: Classfmonline
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