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General News of Monday, February 4, 2019
Source: citinewsroom.com
2019-02-04
Visas issued before the date of entry into force of these restrictions will not be affected.
On Monday, the US Embbady in Ghana will suspend the issuance of all new visas for national employees of Ghanaian diplomats hosted in the United States.
The embbady would also limit the normal five-year validity period and a number of tourist and business visa seizures to all Ghanaian employees of the executive and legislative branches, their spouses and children under the age of majority. 21 years of age, single-entry visas valid for one month only.
It became necessary after what the United States called the Ghanaian government's refusal to accept about 7,000 Ghanaians to be deported from the United States.
The US government's announcement announcing the restrictions indicated that Ghana would face more sanctions if the government's position did not change.
"Without an appropriate response from Ghana, the scope of these sanctions could be extended to a wider population. The sanctions will remain in force until the US Secretary of Homeland Security notifies the Secretary of State Pompeo that the cooperation on removals has improved to an acceptable level. "
In the meantime, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has refuted allegations by the US government that it would not cooperate in expelling Ghanaians from the United States. which has led to visa penalties imposed on some Ghanaian citizens.
In the government's first official response on this issue, he expressed concern and disappointment at the evolving situation and said such allegations were "unfounded".
The ministry also said that "the sanctions imposed on Ghana are without any justification."
She stated that she "always cooperated with US authorities in the treatment and removal of Ghanaian citizens who were cited for deportation".
Context
According to indications received until 2017, 7,000 Ghanaians would be threatened with deportation.
The US Ambbadador to Ghana, Robert P. Jackson, said the 7,000 people were guilty of various immigration offenses and had violated the terms of their visa.
At the time, he said that Ghanaians were at different stages of the deportation process.
But the government said it did not want to rush the process and wanted a thorough control of the said deportees.
The Government was also concerned by reports of ill-treatment of Ghanaians expelled by the US Government.
Robert Jackson was invited by Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee to clarify reports of ill-treatment of expellees.
According to reports, a group of expelled in 2017 was reportedly handcuffed and forced to board the plane for Ghana, but the US Embbady denied any inhuman treatment.
Barfuor Adjei-Bawuah, Ghana's ambbadador to the United States, also hinted that he was under pressure from US authorities to punish the expulsion of Ghanaians.
These revelations occurred amid accusations that the United States was attempting to intimidate Ghana by threatening to restrict visas.
Robert Jackson countered that the United States was only trying to enforce its immigration rules and not threaten Ghana with visa restrictions.
He added that the United States simply wanted the government to expedite the process of issuing travel documents to Ghanaians who were to be deported.
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