Ablakwa blows alarm on US$38.2 million visa processing scandal at Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The lawmaker stated that the scandal was initiated by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration, which he accuses of hastily signing a ‘dubious’ visa processing contract in the final weeks before leaving office.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on October 17, 2024, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa explained that the deal involving one; Access Citizens Services Ghana Limited has sparked outrage among diplomats and security officials.

According to Ablakwa, these diplomats have expressed concerns about its implications for national security, data protection, and the financial interests of Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad.

He mentioned that the contract agreement, signed on October 2, 2024, allows Access Citizens Services Ghana Limited to exclusively handle all front-end visa applications worldwide, excluding only protocol visas.

Subsequently, Ghana’s diplomatic missions will be required to transfer visa processing responsibilities to Access Citizens within four months of the company establishing Premium Application Centers in each respective country – a decision which he believes is highly problematic.

Okudzeto Ablakwa noted that parliamentary oversight regarding the contract has revealed violations of due process, lack of transparency, and disregard for Ghana’s procurement laws.

“The agreement raises major concerns about data protection, national security, and a crude undermining of key functions of Ghana’s diplomatic missions. Interestingly, the two parties have agreed to operate under the new dubious terms until September 1, 2028, with the option for another 5-year renewal. Access Citizens, under this new agreement, will enjoy absolute exclusivity,” the lawmaker wrote.

“Access Citizens insist that they must be allowed to exclusively process a forecasted minimum of 695,468 visas between September 1, 2023, and September 1, 2028, which has been gladly granted by Ghana’s Foreign Ministry. From the unconscionable revenue sharing arrangement under the contract, Ghana’s Foreign Ministry will receive a paltry 3% to 10% of the fees from visa applicants,” Ablakwa disclosed.

“Visa applicants in the United Kingdom will now pay £45. Visa applicants in the United States of America will pay $55; visa applicants in Germany and Italy will pay €55; visa applicants in China will pay $55, and visa applicants in all other jurisdictions will pay $55. Conservative financial analysis shows that Access Citizens will be raking in about $38.2 million between now and September 2028, while Ghana’s Foreign Ministry struggles to get a measly $2 million out of that,” he added.

Additionally, the North Tongu lawmaker said that the deal includes the absence of approval from the Public Procurement Authority and the exclusion of parliamentary scrutiny.

He cited intercepted documents revealing that the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ramses J. Cleland, signed the agreement under the direction of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.

Ablakwa said that top diplomats, including those in Washington and Beijing, are reportedly opposing the deal, which could significantly reduce Internally Generated Funds (IGF) for Ghana’s embassies and consulates.

“This hurriedly negotiated sweetheart deal is set to deny Ghana’s diplomatic missions massive IGF. Sadly, they were not even consulted. Many of our diplomatic missions are justifiably kicking against this inimical transaction with our embassies in Washington and Beijing,” he cautioned.

Read Okudzeto Ablakwa’s tweets below: