$38m Visa Processing Scandal: Ablakwa's claims are misleading, mischievous - Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to claims made by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa relative to the application and processing of visas.

The Ministry in a press statement dated October 18, 2024, described Ablakwa’s assertions as misleading.

It clarified that the arrangement with Access Services is in line with global standard visa application processing.

“The arrangement with Access is in line with global standard visa application processing whereby receipt of applications and capturing of biometric data are carried out by third-party visa application centres,” the statement said.

Additionally, the Ministry explained that Ablakwa’s allegations regarding Access Citizens making about US$38.2 million between now and September 2028 are mischievous, as he failed to account for key costs such as taxes, capital, and recurrent expenses, among others.

“The claim by Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that per his "conservative financial analysis, Access Citizens would be raking about US$ 38.2 million between now and September 2028 while Ghana's Foreign Ministry struggles to get a measly US$ 2 million out of that" is grossly misleading.

“Interestingly, not included in the financial analysis are the taxes, capital and recurrent expenses that Access would incur between now and September 2028 as well as what percentage of the so-called projected revenue of US$ 38.2 million these expenses would constitute. By ignoring these key cost imperatives in any well-meaning analysis seems mischievous as adding them would clearly expose the intended mischief,” the statement added.

On October 17, 2024, Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that he had intercepted contractual documents between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and a company known as Access Citizens Services Ghana Limited.

According to him, the document shows that Access Services will handle all front-end visa applications for people seeking Ghanaian visas worldwide.

Ablakwa further raised concerns that Access Citizens is set to rake in about US$38.2 million between now and September 2028, while Ghana’s Foreign Ministry would receive a mere US$2 million from that amount.

MAG/EK

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