Isaac Owusu Ansah
RENOWNED RADIO and television personality, Isaac Owusu Ansah (OPD) of Adom FM, has raised a growing concern in Ghana’s entertainment sector, which pertains to the denial of international visas by some embassies in Ghana.
Speaking to BEATWAVES, OPD stated that several hardworking acts in the country, who have been invited to perform in European countries, have been denied visas by some embassies for reasons known to them.
OPD mentioned that he had engaged some embassies and High Commissions on the numerous complaints by music stakeholders about how Ghanaian citizens are treated when they visit Foreign Missions in Accra for visa applications.
“The complaints cover issues such as not providing conducive waiting areas, non-availability of emergency services, long waiting times for appointment dates, as well as challenges using visa application websites,” he stated.
He argued that most Ghanaian musicians and event organisers have been blacklisted by the embassies and High Commissions, and cannot travel to Europe and USA for a period of ten years.
He further revealed that only a handful of music industry stakeholders have access to travel to Europe and the USA for a performance.
While the embassies are yet to respond to some of these assertions, OPD has appealed to embassies and High Commissions in the country to consider granting Ghanaian musicians a visa for performances in Europe and America.