The Minister’s comments follow the Speaker of Parliament’s directive to Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee last week, to investigate cases of alleged dehumanizing treatment meted out to Ghanaians at some embassies.

[contextly_sidebar id=”AY9ApsDpYyZv6wULOfg03wzJ7A2TOQFR”]In an interview with Citi News, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway said most of the foreign missions engaged so far by the Ministry, have been responsive to the complaints from Ghanaians.

“We have been engaging with these embassies and informing them of the problems that Ghanaians are faced with when they come for visas and it has been very fruitful. We have had meetings with the UK High Commission, we have had meetings with the US Embassy, we have had meetings with the Chinese Embassy.”

Poor treatment of Ghanaians must stop – Ablakwa 

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.”

Mr. 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.”

Investigate ‘ill-treatment’ of Ghanaians at Embassies – Speaker orders

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

“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.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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There have been reports that the deportees were handcuffed and forced on board the plane to Ghana.

[contextly_sidebar id=”c4iGLVOLOCDav07faiFlNSRlxw0mYA2n”]Though the US Embassy has dismissed the allegation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is insisting investigations should be conducted to establish the truth.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs , Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey told Citi News’ Duke Mensah Opoku this has become necessary due to conflicting reports received from the deportees and the US Embassy on the treatment on board the chartered flight to Ghana.

“So far, we do not have any concrete evidence through pictures or any other way to determine that indeed this happened. It is something that the National Security is looking into but as a Ministry we are not seized with doing investigations of that nature. Very soon , in a month or so we will have a physical presence in Kuwait and we can take it up but so far I have had meetings with the Foreign Missions here and I have complained and expressed government’s displeasure and concern about the way our nationals are being treated. I have had a meeting with the Ambassadors so they are aware we are not happy with them. It is not just Qatar but also all the other gulf states.”

The Minister also pledged government’s commitment to ensuring that Ghanaian citizens are “safe and protected as their rights are respected.”

In November 2016, 108 Ghanaians were also deported. It is unclear if the recent deportation is as a result of the immigration policy of current US President Donald Trump.

Robert Jackson has said that the US is open to receive Ghanaians who enter the country and reside legally.

He said tens of thousands of Ghanaians are currently in the US working legally and face no threat of deportation.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The Ministry has therefore urged prospective investors, especially from Latvia, to consider Ghana as the gateway to a wider West African markets of over 300 million people.

The political and micro-economic stability were all available for the benefit of anyone seeking to do business in Ghana, Mr Edwin Adjei, Acting Chief Director of the Foreign Ministry noted.

Speaking at a Ghana- Latvia business forum hosted by the Foreign Ministry in Accra on Friday, Mr Adjei, on behalf of the Sector Minister, Mrs Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, expressed government’s determination to turn the fortunes of the country around with much focus on trade, investment and industrialization.

The forum followed a political summit held between Ghana and Latvian delegation made of investors and led by Mr Andrejs Pildegovics, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Latvia and some Ghanaian business people.

Ghana and Latvia, a country with a population of two million people is one of the fastest growing economies, established diplomatic relations in January 1992, which had served as a boost for economic cooperation and establishments of contacts.

“As you may be aware, over the past decade, Ghana has witnessed impressive economic growth with annual growth rate averaging over 6.4 per cent…Estimates from the Ghana Statistical Service from April 2013 show that in real terms, the Ghanaian economy expanded by 7.9 per cent in 2012, which compares well with an average global growth of 3.2 per cent and an average sub-Saharan growth of 4.8 per cent, Mr Adjei told Latvians.

He said Ghana in recent times had also made gains in her bilateral trade, increasing by over 70 per cent the last five years, and that the European Union of which Latvia was a part, continued to be the most important trade partner for the country, accounting for around 30 per cent of the nation’s total external trade since 2012.

Mr Adjei said foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to Ghana had also increased significantly in the past few years, with the country featuring among the top five recipients of FDI into Africa in 2012.

“In view of these developments, Latvia has the opportunity to share in Ghana’s economic growth success story, while we also look forward to tapping into the rich experience of Latvia, especially, with much focus on development cooperation based on our shared values and aspiration” he noted.

Mr Pildegovics, on his part said the forum afforded the opportunity for Latvia to build stronger bilateral relations with Ghana.

He said Latvia which marks 100^th years anniversary in 2018, was the 17^th most friendly country to do business and that many business opportunities existed in that country with more business people looking for new opportunities in Ghana to explore for partnerships.

He said areas of forestry which gives Latvia 2.2 billion euros of revenue annually could be explored by Ghanaian businesses while railways, ICT and technologies, transportation, agriculture and food processing, wood processing, chemical and pharmaceutical industry, among others could be further explored.

He announced that a Ghanaian, David Adjaye had won a bid to construct a national museum in Latvia by 2021.

Mr Pildegivics therefore invited Ghana to also send a delegation to Latvia to have a further interaction leading to much trade and investment opportunities.

Mr Edward Ashong-Lartey, Director of Investor Services at GIPC who briefed the delegates on the business opportunities in Ghana, said areas including, affordable housing, agriculture, and tourism were available to be explored by investors.

He also called on the Latvians to partner Ghanaians to establish a world-standard tourism training institution that could train Ghanaians to work to meet international standard and also boost the tourism sector.

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Source: GNA

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Currently, there are only six centres across the country, a situation that causes delays, also because the regional offices are not empowered to print the passports for prospective applicants.

The situation has caused many applicants grave frustrations, leading to exploitation by some swindlers.

[contextly_sidebar id=”UMYtLldLh2eOI5zJt5t4lQVBxfDHWoGQ”]But the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Charles Owiredu, has told Citi News government will expand the centers to ten, to resolve this challenge.

He also indicated that, government will improve on the online application process.

“One of the key things that has bedeviled the Ministry is in the area of passport. People are complaining that anytime they need a passport and they go to the passport application centres there are delays. Now we have six centres where people can apply for passports and the plan is to extend it to all the regional capitals so instead of the six we will have ten.”

“Also we have the online application. We also want to expand the online application to all centres so people can sit in the comfort of their homes and apply for their passports. We want to make sure that every mission is capable of issuing passports.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, had earlier reiterated government’s resolve to ensure that the processes leading to passport acquisition in the country are made easier.

Speaking during her vetting as Minister Nominee, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said : “We’ll be ensuring that processes that Ghanaians go through that has something to do with the foreign ministry will be smooth processes such as the acquisition of passports and visas and all of that, there is a lot of work there that needs to be done and we are going to do our best.”

‘Ghana launches online passport application’

Ghana in December 2016 launched an online passport application service, aimed at easing the mode of application of passports for Ghanaians, while ensuring maximum security for applicants.

The introduction of the system was also to prevent the activities of ‘goro boys’ in the passport application process that often results in defrauding of innocent Ghanaians.

Ms Hanna S. Tetteh, the then Foreign Affairs Minister, said the service was inherent in the e-Government strategy. However, the online application process is not effective.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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“In Mamelodi, a suburb in Pretoria, there is general fear and apprehension within the various foreign communities including that of Ghana following a decision by a local to organize an anti-foreigner march today to protest at what he referred to as South African nationals being tired of enslavement and being deprived of job opportunities in their own country,” she added.

She told Ghana’s Parliament on Friday that, although no Ghanaian has been affected in the recent attacks, her outfit has adopted stringent measures to ensure the safety of Ghanaians living in South Africa.

There have been recorded cases of attacks on non-South Africans in recent times.

Tensions have heightened in that country following a group calling itself Mamelodi Concerned Residents’ notice of organizing a march today, Friday, in protest of what it said was foreigners taking over their businesses.

Several calls by leaders in South Africa as well as opinion leaders for calm have proved futile.

A similar incident occurred in South Africa in 2015.

The Foreign Affairs minister further disclosed to the legislators some safety measures Ghana’s mission in South Africa had put in place:

• The mission has visited many shops owned by Ghanaians in the sunny suburb of Pretoria informing them of the development and the need to activate all early warning signals using social media groups to provide information in case of any attacks.
• [Ghanaian]Pretoria shop owners have been directed to close their shops immediately the threats are deemed as eminent.
• The Ghanaian community in Mamelodi where the march against foreigners will take place today have also been advised not to open their businesses today and remain indoors while awaiting all clear signals from community leaders and the mission.
• The mission has also written a note verbale to the department of international relations and corporation requesting their continued protection of Ghanaian nationals and all non-South African nationals as well as their businesses.
• The mission in addition to its official numbers introduced a 24-hour mobile hotline [0027 (0) 713098034] that can also be accessed via social media including Whatsapp and telephone. The number is exclusively for any information relating to the xenophobic attacks and so far we have had a few calls.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey & Sixtus Dong Ullo/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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According to the ministry, rumours that it has sanctioned the deportation of citizens in the diaspora are deliberate attempts to malign the minister, Shirley Ayorkor-Botchwey.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4IPmTQgwuwg4WkqAZwT55h8FgmwUf8n2″]A section of the media recently reported that the ministry backed the deportation of some undocumented Ghanaians living outside the country.

According to the report, the position was reiterated by the minister, Shirley Ayorkor-Botchwey when she appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for her vetting on Monday, 23rd January, 2017.

But the Ministry in a statement copied to citifmonline.com, said “these are untruthful and cruel attempts being made by some unpatriotic elements to twist the responses given by the Minister.”

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional integration wishes to point out that seeking and protecting the welfare of Ghananians abroad is one of the cardinal principles of Ghana’s foreign policy.”

“Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey articulated that very well during her vetting.  She also indicated that much as missions abroad could not interfere in the affairs of any sovereign country, to have the status of undocumented Ghanaians regularised, she would engage those countries to ensure that our nationals are treated in a humane manner, whenever the need arises and do all that she can to protect their interest, by extending to them all the consular assistance that they are entitled to as Ghanaians,” the statement said.

The ministry said Madam Ayorkor-Botchwey only noted that, she will ensure Ghana’s missions abroad meet with citizens in the diaspora and appeal to them to come home to assist, but never said she will sanction their deportation back to Ghana.

It added that, the minister insisted on engaging countries where undocumented Ghanaians were residing to ensure they were not maltreated.

“The Ministry of Foreign affairs and Regional Integration  has not issued directives for the deportation of any Ghanaians living abroad,” it added.

“The general public is therefore entreated to disregard those negative reports which seek to malign the person of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional integration, Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the Ministry as a whole,” it further said.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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She had been the head of the Foreign Affairs ministry from January 2013, till the change in government in 2017.

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey was officially sworn in by President Akufo-Addo as her replacement on January 25, 2017.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The two, Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef, and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby who were in detention for 14 years after being linked with terrorist group Al-Qaeda, were brought to Ghana in 2016, to be reintegrated back into their home countries.

The decision by the Mahama-led administration was met with massive public uproar, as many describing it as a threat to national security.

Several members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) kicked against the decision.

However, speaking to Citi News’ Umaru Sanda Amadu after taking her turn at the Appointments Committee of Parliament, the Minister nominee for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, failed to disclose whether or not the NPP government will review the agreement.

She said “they are one year into the agreement, so we have another year to go before the agreement that was signed comes to an end.”

When she probed further, Ayorkor Botchwey said, “I don’t know [whether it will be reviewed or not], this is sub-judice so I don’t think that I want to make any comment on it.”

“But I’m just saying that we are one year into the agreement, the agreement is for two years, when we come to that bridge we will cross it. It is an agreement, the agreement has already been done,” the Minister nominee added.

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey appeared before the Appointments Committee on Monday where she was vetted.

However the Defence Minister-nominee, Dominic Nitiwul, has said the NPP administration will take a decision on the two men.

No security threat

The US Embassy in Ghana had in January 2016, assured Ghanaians that the presence of the two former detainees, posed no threat to the security of the country.

Some two Ghanaians subsequently sued government over the decision.

The two Ghanaians, Margaret Bamful and Henry Nana Boakye, accused former President John Mahama of illegally bringing in the two former Gitmo detainees, without recourse to the laws of the land.

The plaintiffs sought among other reliefs a “declaration that on a true and proper interpretation of Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the President of the Republic of Ghana acted unconstitutionally by agreeing to the transfer of Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby.”

The Supreme Court in 2016 ordered the  government of Ghana to release its agreement with the United States government regarding the acceptance of two Guantanamo Bay detainees into the country.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The previous National Democratic Congress (NDC), had in 2016 indicated that, Ghana will from 2017 move from issuing biometric passports, to chip-embedded ones to its citizens globally.

The Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Hanna Tetteh, had explained that the move was to enable the country meet international standards, as well as make it possible for Ghanaians in the diaspora to acquire passports from Ghana’s 57 missions and consulates worldwide.

Speaking during her vetting at Parliament House on Monday, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said although the migration process went as far as to the central tender board under the tenure of the former Minister, she will ensure that the process is quickened.

“…Of course, this is a process that did not come to a completion, but I will assure the house that I will do everything within my power to expedite it. I need to look at it again, and ensure that everything is okay. I know that the process went as far as to the central tender board, but in making sure that everything is okay, also appreciate the fact that we need to migrate from biometric passport to chip embedded passport, which will make it very easy for everyone of us in terms of security.”

Acquiring Ghanaian passport still difficult

The acquisition of Ghanaian passport remains very tedious for prospective applicants. The process is still very slow and fraught with illegal charges.

There are sometimes shortages of passport forms across the country.

About Shirley 

Shirley was born in Accra on the 8th February 1963. She holds an MA (Public Communication) University of Westminster in 2002.

She also has an MA (Public Communication) University of Westminister, 2002; MBA (Project Management) University of Ghana which she received in 2004. She has been in Parliament since 2005.

She has also served on some Parliamentary committees including, Gender and Children, Committee of Selection, Committee on Members Holding Offices of Profit Communications.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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