US visa: unjustified sanctions – Ayorkor

General News of Monday, February 4, 2019

Source: clbadfmonline.com

2019-02-04

Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has expressed disappointment over the US government's decision to impose visa penalties in Ghana.

"Ghana has not respected its obligations under international law to accept the return of its expelled US nationals," said the US Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen, in a press release.

"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 informs the US Secretary Pompeo that the cooperation on removals has improved to an acceptable level, "added the US press release.

Responding to this development, Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that US action is not desirable because, according to a statement, Ghana would comply with all the provisions made to accommodate Ghanaians living illegally in the United States. -United.

The ministry said: "He has always cooperated with US authorities in the processing and removal of Ghanaian citizens who have been cited for deportation to Ghana."

She explained: "As it is bound to do so and in accordance with international law, the Embbady of Ghana in Washington DC implements identification and verification processes to ensure that all the persons designated to be deported to Ghana are bona fide citizens of Ghana. All countries engage in these processes to accept their expelled citizens from all over the world and this is not unique to Ghana and the United States. The identification and verification mechanisms have established deadlines and procedures that are always communicated to the authorities that deport.

"It should be noted that as of January 8, 2019, our mission in Washington had received 28 requests from US authorities, of which 19 were interviewed by the Embbady and 11 travel certificates were issued for their trip to Ghana. Those who are in abeyance are the result of doubts about their Ghanaian nationality, their state of health and the case pending in US courts. "

The Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was therefore surprising that US authorities ignore the international protocols that must be observed in the matter of expulsion and make allegations of lack of cooperation.

The ministry said the allegations were unfounded and the sanctions imposed on Ghana were without any justification.