Contrary to public perception that Ghana’s former presidents will have to queue in order to acquire visas before travelling to the United States (US), the embassy in Ghana has clarified that there will be nothing of the sort.
Press Attache’ at the US Embassy in Ghana, Sarah Stealy told ClassFMonline.com on Monday, June 26, that the courtesies which will be extended to former presidents mean “they don’t have to stand in line, but the law still requires that they come in but they don’t have to queue up”.
US Ambassador to Ghana Robert Jackson told the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament on Thursday, 22 June, 2017 that the US was withdrawing certain courtesies given to state officials.
He had said the embassy would process visas for officials travelling for government business within 48 hours of receipt of their passports from the Protocol Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but officials travelling on private business will have to go through the process like any ordinary citizen.
“Now if you are travelling for tourism or business that is not related to government business, you will need to make a personal appearance. I want to reiterate, for official travel, protocol officers pass the passports for visa applications through the foreign ministry and the foreign ministry’s protocol officers bring it to us. But for personal travel, every person is required to make a personal appearance, even former presidents of Ghana have to come in for personal appearance. There are no exceptions,” he stated.
The Ambassador’s comment sparked public outrage with some people saying it was disrespectful of Ghana’s former presidents.
But Ms Stealy emphasised that ex-presidents are exempted from queuing even when they are travelling on private business.
“Our policies have not changed. Generally speaking, when someone applies for a nonimmigrant visa to travel to the United States, an interview is required. That is long-standing U.S. law. In certain circumstances, such as an official traveling on official business, the law allows us to waive the interview. For personal travel, an interview is required. However, as the ambassador said when he spoke to parliament, for former presidents and high-ranking officials such as MPs, we are happy to work with them to extend the courtesy of a private appointment,” she added.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
