The Canadian High Commissioner in Ghana, Jean-Pierre Bolduc, has refuted allegations that the Canadian High Commission deliberately refused qualified applicants visas to his country.
Recently, Chronicle received numerous complaints from applicants who allegedly accused the high commission of unfair treatment.
"We have no pleasure in refusing qualified applicants visas to Canada," Bolduc insisted.
He stated categorically that even though there is no specific policy regarding the West African sub-region and Ghana, in particular, under no circumstance his outfit would indulge in dubious means of restricting any qualified applicant from entering Canada.
Reacting to the allegation in an interview with the Chronicle last week in Accra, the high commissioner, hinted that his country has introduced a new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in June, this year which spells out his country's commitment to family reunification and resettlement of persons requiring protection.
"Canada does everything on humanitarian grounds and never frustrates immigrants," he asserted.
On the rampant offences or irregularities that characterize applicants forms, he contended that Canada's Privacy Act prevents the commissioner from leaking information about applicants to a third party, hence making it very difficult in establishing the kind of offences.
With the new immigration and refugee protection act, there is a provision for the high commission to ban any applicant or group of people from applying to Canada for two years, if false information is detected, the Chronicle learnt.
Mr. Bolduc maintained that qualified applicants are issued visas where the information and other supporting documents provided prove beyond reasonable doubt.
He therefore, emphasized the need for all prospective applicants to present accurate information so as to avoid possible refusal and subsequent embarrassment.
When the high commissioner was quizzed whether he is aware that his commission is perceived as the most difficult among other the western countries, he stressed that probably that might have resulted in misunderstanding among the general public, adding that it has to with variations in immigration policies pursued by other western nations.
He reiterated that in spite of multiple terrorists attacks on US on September 11, last year, his country has not altered its immigration policy.
Mr. Bolduc declined to name the category of applicants who are commonly refused entry by referring to the act of privacy when pushed to the wall by this reporter.
He also reserved his comment on what crime might have been associated with Ghanaians domiciled in Canada that might have prompted strict issuance of visas to qualified applicants.
Touching on students' complaints on constant refusal of entry, though with requisite qualification and other supporting documents, the high commissioner told the Chronicle that his outfit never discourages young Ghanaians who qualify to study in Canada, adding that the new act demands, "letter of acceptance from the school of applicants' choices, enough proof that one could afford his or her school fees and live near the school of his choice, evident to ensure one's return to his home country at end of studies and successful medical examinations, as well as qualification for temporaryl resident in Canada."
To this end, he has recommended students in the country to visit their web site (CIC.GC.CA) to abreast themselves with the current requirements when applying for a student visa.
For her part, Elizabeth Snow, the First Secretary, Immigration, revealed that Canada allows over 35 million temporary visitors globally annually with 250,000 permanent residents, with no specific number coming from one particular geographical region or country.
She, however, appealed to prospective applicants to visit their aforementioned website and scoop all the necessary information that may enable them prepare properly to become successful applicants.
"With our new immigration act, we can only accept complete applications, we are not ready to review and entertain requests," she warned.
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