The Chairman of the Committee, Frank Annor Dompreh, said that hearing from the victims of the alleged maltreatment at the Embassies will enable them to properly assess the situation in order to find a lasting solution to the problem.

[contextly_sidebar id=”0XaXMmDMrV7BpaOJrt6C8UMvzg3MPqeC”]”We urge the Ghanaian public to come forth with memos, inputs and views, and come and share experiences with the Committee. Written memos could be routed through the clerk of Parliament. We have a period from now to the 8^th of December to receive the memos and inputs, and then we’ll go ahead and meet the general public for them to share their experiences for us to know what they have gone through,” he told Citi News.

He however added that, the Embassies and High Commissions which are singled out in the complaints from the public will also be invited to respond to the allegations.

“It’s not going to be lopsided, we’re also going to speak to these foreign missions and the Ambassadors and High Commissioners concerned. It’s not an attempt to tarnish their image. We believe in their sovereignty and the sovereignty of our country too, and we believe that they need us to survive just as we need them. But we think that where there are genuine reasons, we need to investigate them and come to the bottom of it.”

Concerns have been raised that a probe into the activities of the foreign missions might put a strain on the relationship between those nations and Ghana.

While acknowledging that a number of Embassies in the country operate properly, Frank Annor Dompreh insisted that, it was imperative for Parliament to look into the matter in order to prevent further mistreatment of Ghanaians in their quest to secure visas for their travels.

He added that Parliament did not intend to jeopardize Ghana’s relations with the foreign missions.

“A number of [the Embassies] are also executing what they have to execute and we respect those who are doing well. But there are instances where we think they have gone beyond board and we have to zero in on them and get this resolved. Ghana has wonderful relationships with these countries, this is not an attempt to undermine or jeopardize it,” he said.

“We’re trying to level the playing field and ensure that the Ghanaian is treated with some dignity.  We believe that we’ll get the maximum cooperation from our foreign missions and partners so that all of us can get together and get to the bottom of this matter once and for all.”

Poor treatment of Ghanaians in embassies must stop

The issue came under the spotlight after some minority members of Parliament called on government to hold foreign missions accountable over reports of inhumane treatment meted out to Ghanaians.

Without singling out any particular embassy, the Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, noted that the situation could affect diplomatic relations with Ghana if not checked.

Making a statement on the floor of Parliament, the North Tongu MP said: “the blot I speak of is the shabby and dehumanizing treatment sometimes meted out to many Ghanaian applicants virtually on a daily basis.”

He added that “there is also what many Ghanaian visa applicants consider to be extortionist conduct on the part of some of these embassies.”

Mr. Ablakwa noted that, most embassies have made “no provision for a decent and safe waiting area where visa applicants may be hosted as they wait their turn during visa interview appointments.”

The calls from the MPs prompted the Speaker, Prof. Mike Oquaye, to direct the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament to immediately investigate claims that Ghanaians are being maltreated at some foreign missions in the country.

He directed the Foreign Affairs Committee to meet and deliberate on the issue, and visit some of the embassies

“Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs shall meet and deliberate on this matter through investigation and interrogation; and armed with a letter from the Speaker’s Office, they shall visit relevant embassies and places, analyse the problem, where necessary with the cooperation of Embassy staff, and our own foreign office, but independent of it, and report back to the House,” the Speaker said.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonine.com/Ghana

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His advise comes following several complaints of poor service at some embassies, and this was highlighted by a statement from the Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

[contextly_sidebar id=”XHDtD9ruC94Ez5yZv18KAYv0w6QL3Zc0″]The CPA at a press conference held at its premises, said it will compile these reports and meet with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a bid to find a lasting solution.

The Executive Director of the CPA, Kofi Kapito, speaking at the press conference, said ‘The CPA like we said, we have engaged various people; we want to collect evidence  – I don’t want any ‘connection man’ – I want genuine people who have genuine cases for them to contact us so that we will be able to collect the evidence and present it in our next meeting.’

‘Stop poor treatment of Ghanaians in embassies must stop ‘

Some minority members of Parliament have called on government to hold foreign missions accountable over reports of inhumane treatment meted out to Ghanaians.

Without singling out any particular embassy, the Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, noted that the situation could affect diplomatic relations in Ghana if not checked.

Making a statement on the floor of Parliament, the North Tongu MP said: “the blot I speak of is the shabby and dehumanizing treatment sometimes meted out to many Ghanaian applicants virtually on a daily basis.”

He added that “there is also what many Ghanaian visa applicants consider to be extortionist conduct on the part of some of these embassies.”

Mr Ablakwa noted that, most embassies have made “no provision for a decent and safe waiting area where visa applicants may be hosted as they wait their turn during visa interview appointments.”

The calls from the MPs prompted the Speaker, Prof. Mike Oquaye, to direct the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament to immediately investigate claims that Ghanaians are being maltreated at some foreign missions in the country.

He directed the Foreign Affairs Committee to meet and deliberate on the issue, and visit some of the embassies

“Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs shall meet and deliberate on this matter through investigation and interrogation; and armed with a letter from the Speaker’s Office, they shall visit relevant embassies and places, analyse the problem, where necessary with the cooperation of Embassy staff, and our own foreign office, but independent of it, and report back to the House,” the Speaker said.

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By: Michael Ogbodu/citifmonine.com/Ghana

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The Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had expressed concerns about the plight of many Ghanaians at a number of embassies, noting the “dehumanizing treatment sometimes meted out to many applicants virtually on a daily basis.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”DuxcIArHIiDOBOA4UilEVahY5qQi7k8E”]Mr. Ablakwa also stated on the floor of Parliament that, most embassies have made “no provision for a decent and safe waiting area where visa applicants may be hosted as they wait their turn during visa interview appointments.”

Prof. Mike Oquaye, has as a result, directed the Foreign Affairs Committee to meet and deliberate on the issue, and visit some of the embassies

“Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs shall meet and deliberate on this matter through investigation and interrogation; and armed with a letter from the Speaker’s Office, they shall visit relevant embassies and places, analyse the problem, where necessary with the cooperation of Embassy staff, and our own foreign office, but independent of it, and report back to the House,” the Speaker said.

The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Frank Annor Dompreh, had earlier said that his Committee was aware of the situation, and would team up with the Foreign Affairs Ministry on how best to deal with this worrying trend.

“It has become so important and poignant that we take some important decisions and make some attempts to resolve this concern once and for all,” he said.

Mr. Annor Dompreh  indicated the need for a thorough investigation, saying “there are some of these embassies that are doing a very good job and they need to be supported and encouraged.”

The Speaker admitted that,  there was a need for cooperation between Parliament and the responsible Ministry, but insisted that, the House would not hesitate to take up issues that concern the interests of Ghanaians.

“I want to emphasize that, we shall always have to cooperate with the appropriate Ministries and agencies, but Parliament will not abandon its inquisitorial role of inquiring into matters that touch, concern and affect Ghanaians,” he said.

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By: Duke Mensah Opoku & Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, made this known when a 12-Member Inter-Agency Committee on the Management of Foreign Labour Migration presented a 24-page Report to him, in Accra, on Friday.

He said the meeting had become necessary because those embassies were involved in the issuance of visas to Ghanaians going to those countries.

He said the Government was not against foreign migration but was strongly opposed to excessive exploitation of Ghanaian migrants, adding that, Ghanaian migrants deserved to be treated with dignity, while their labour rights were respected in any country they find themselves.

In recent times, the Ghanaian media has been inundated with reports of harsh treatment meted out to Ghanaian in the Gulf States such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

They are often subjected to sexual exploitation, physical and emotional torture.

Mr Baffour Awuah said the Government’s delegation will be led by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MFARI) and Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR).

He expressed appreciation to the members of the Committee for their hard work and assured that the Ministry would study the Report and submit the recommendations to the Cabinet for consideration.

The Minister noted that most countries in the world were signatories to the International Labour Organisation’s conventions on labour, therefore, wherever any citizen of any country found himself or herself they ought to be treated with dignity.

He said the Ministry would issue a White Paper on the Committee’s recommendations after Cabinet had considered it, in order to guide foreign labour migration management.

Mr Baffour Awuah, therefore, urged the media to intensify public education and sensitisation on illegal foreign migration.

Some recommendations in the Committee’s Report include ensuring well-coordinated and regulated migration procedures since it could reduce unemployment in Ghana; there should be effective inter-agency collaboration to ensure effective migration governance; licensing of all migration recruitment agencies or agents and bilateral agreement between Ghana and destination countries contributing to the infractions.

Others are that; Ghana should improve bilateral co-operation with destination countries to enhance migration governance; Government should engage Gulf States embassies on non-issuance of visas directly to migrant workers, but rather issue them to only licensed labour recruitment agencies, among others.

Mr Sammy-Longman Attakumah, the Chairperson of the Committee and Chief Director of MELR, the Committee was established by the Sector Minister on July 18 this year, with a two-month mandate, to review existing international labour laws and regulations and make recommendations towards resolving harsh treatment of Ghanaian migrants.

It comprised representatives from the Labour Department, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Police Service, the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General’s Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

The rest are; the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.

He said the Committee engaged key stakeholders and received input and recommendations in relation to foreign migration.

Currently, there is a temporary ban on the exportation of labour from Ghana to some Gulf States.

Meanwhile, the nation has licensed 58 recruitment migration agencies by the Registrar General’s Department with Board of Directors certified by the Ghana Police Service.

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Source: GNA

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The Liga giants had been linked with a move for the creative midfielder ever since he impressed at the World Cup and the Colombian has now signed a contract until the summer of 2020 with the Santiago Bernabeu club after passing his medical.

James started his professional career with Envigado and also wore the Banfield and Porto jerseys before joining Monaco for €45m last year.

He impressed in his first season at the Ligue 1 side, scoring nine goals in 34 league appearances to help Monaco to second place in the table and qualification for the Champions League.

The attacking midfielder was also one of the stars of the 2014 World Cup as he picked up the Golden Boot and the Goal of the Tournament award following his sublime performances for Colombia, earning himself a move to Madrid in the process.

James is the Bernabeu side’s second signing of the summer transfer window after the previous capture of Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich and will be presented to the world at 20:00CET on Tuesday.

The arrival of the Colombia star likely means the end of Isco’s spell at Madrid, with Liverpool and Manchester City keeping a close eye on his situation in the Spanish capital.

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Source: Goal.com

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The 23-year-old is in Madrid undergoing a medical as he looks to become Los Blancos’ latest signing, following the arrival of German star Toni Kroos.

Rodriguez will join with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema to provide a formidable attacking threat for the Champions League winners.

Rodriguez was one of the stars of the World Cup, scoring six goals for his country on his way to winning the tournament’s Golden Boot award.

The midfielder scored the goal of the tournament at the World Cup with a stunning volley against Uruguay in the last 16.

He makes the move to the Spanish capital after spending one season at Monaco, whom he joined from FC Porto for £35million last summer.

Rodriguez scored nine goals and registered 12 assists for Monaco last season as they finished second in Ligue 1 behind Paris St Germain.

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Source: Sky Sports

Photos courtesy Mail Online

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Rodriguez exquisitely chested the ball over his head, swiveled instantly and unleashed a venomous, dipping volley which crashed in off the underside of the crossbar in front of over 70,000.

That strike has now been voted as the Goal of the Tournament by over four million FIFA.com users, beating Robin van Persie’s genial header for the Netherlands against Spain into second place.

Rodriguez became the third successive South American winner of the award, after Argentina’s Maxi Rodriguez triumphed for his thunderbolt against Mexico at Germany 2006 and Diego Forlan was rewarded for his sublime effort for Uruguay in the third-place play-off at South Africa 2010.

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Source: FIFA

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The 23-year-old, who plays for Monaco, scored six goals in five matches as his side reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to hosts Brazil.

Rodriguez finished ahead of Germany forward Thomas Muller, who netted five goals as his side won the tournament.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who won the Golden Ball for the tournament’s best player, was in a tie for third.

His four goals were matched by Brazil striker Neymar and Netherlands forward Robin van Persie.

Rodriguez’s goals helped Colombia progress further than they had before at a World Cup.

He scored against Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan as they topped Group C before netting twice, one a sublime volley, during the 2-0 last-16 win against Uruguay.

Rodriguez’s final goal was a late consolation from the penalty spot as Colombia lost 2-1 to Brazil.

Germany’s Manuel Neuer, 28, won the Golden Glove awarded to the best goalkeeper at the tournament, while France’s 21-year-old midfielder Paul Pogba won the best young player prize.

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Source: BBC Sport

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