The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has raised alarm over what he describes as a high-level visa processing scandal involving Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.<\/p>\n The lawmaker stated that the scandal was initiated by the Akufo-Addo\/Bawumia administration, which he accuses of hastily signing a ‘dubious’ visa processing contract in the final weeks before leaving office.<\/p>\n In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on October 17, 2024, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa explained that the deal involving one; Access Citizens Services Ghana Limited has sparked outrage among diplomats and security officials. <\/p>\n According to Ablakwa, these diplomats have expressed concerns about its implications for national security, data protection, and the financial interests of Ghana\u2019s diplomatic missions abroad.<\/p>\n He mentioned that the contract agreement, signed on October 2, 2024, allows Access Citizens Services Ghana Limited to exclusively handle all front-end visa applications worldwide, excluding only protocol visas.<\/p>\n Subsequently, Ghana’s diplomatic missions will be required to transfer visa processing responsibilities to Access Citizens within four months of the company establishing Premium Application Centers in each respective country \u2013 a decision which he believes is highly problematic.<\/p>\n Okudzeto Ablakwa noted that parliamentary oversight regarding the contract has revealed violations of due process, lack of transparency, and disregard for Ghana’s procurement laws.<\/p>\n \u201cThe agreement raises major concerns about data protection, national security, and a crude undermining of key functions of Ghana\u2019s diplomatic missions. Interestingly, the two parties have agreed to operate under the new dubious terms until September 1, 2028, with the option for another 5-year renewal. Access Citizens, under this new agreement, will enjoy absolute exclusivity,\u201d the lawmaker wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cAccess Citizens insist that they must be allowed to exclusively process a forecasted minimum of 695,468 visas between September 1, 2023, and September 1, 2028, which has been gladly granted by Ghana\u2019s Foreign Ministry. From the unconscionable revenue sharing arrangement under the contract, Ghana\u2019s Foreign Ministry will receive a paltry 3% to 10% of the fees from visa applicants,\u201d Ablakwa disclosed.<\/p>\n \u201cVisa applicants in the United Kingdom will now pay \u00a345. Visa applicants in the United States of America will pay $55; visa applicants in Germany and Italy will pay \u20ac55; visa applicants in China will pay $55, and visa applicants in all other jurisdictions will pay $55. Conservative financial analysis shows that Access Citizens will be raking in about $38.2 million between now and September 2028, while Ghana\u2019s Foreign Ministry struggles to get a measly $2 million out of that,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Additionally, the North Tongu lawmaker said that the deal includes the absence of approval from the Public Procurement Authority and the exclusion of parliamentary scrutiny.<\/p>\n He cited intercepted documents revealing that the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ramses J. Cleland, signed the agreement under the direction of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.<\/p>\n Ablakwa said that top diplomats, including those in Washington and Beijing, are reportedly opposing the deal, which could significantly reduce Internally Generated Funds (IGF) for Ghana\u2019s embassies and consulates.<\/p>\n \u201cThis hurriedly negotiated sweetheart deal is set to deny Ghana\u2019s diplomatic missions massive IGF. Sadly, they were not even consulted. Many of our diplomatic missions are justifiably kicking against this inimical transaction with our embassies in Washington and Beijing,\u201d he cautioned.<\/p>\n See Okudzeto Ablakwa’s tweet below:<\/b><\/p>\n The US$38.2million Visa Processing Scandal <\/p>\n We have been compelled to mount keen parliamentary surveillance on a number of sleazy midnight contracts being negotiated by the Akufo-Addo\/Bawumia government as their tenure comes to an end in a few weeks.<\/p>\n These hurriedly negotiated\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/etPX7gf8vl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) October 17, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n MA<\/p>\n Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:<\/b><\/p>\n![\"Samuel](\"https:\/\/cdn.ghanaweb.com\/imagelib\/pics\/437\/43799831.295.jpg\" "\\"Samuel")
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n