Courtesies to ex-Presidents by US, UK embassies intact - Shirley Ayorkor Botchway

Government is denying claims that diplomatic courtesies extended to former President’s and other officials in the country have been revoked by the UK and US embassies.

According to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, her Ministry has not been notified of any revision and withdrawal of the courtesies.

The US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Peter Jackson, on 22nd June, 2017 suggested that all visa applicants were expected to join the queue, be if official or private trips, contrary to what existed.

Responding to questions on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, October 26, Ms Botchway said the courtesies are still in place.

“The Ministry is not officially informed to any revisions of diplomatic courtesies extended to Ghana’s former Presidents and other deserving Ghanaians by other countries. There were reports of a particular embassy in Accra having communicated such revision, but following a meeting with the ambassador of the said embassy, he indicated that he did not make those comments and confirmed that former Presidents and deserving Ghanaians still enjoy such courtesies,” she said.

On the inhumane treatment meted out to Ghanaian visa applicants by some embassies and diplomatic missions, Ms Botchway said the Ministry has taken up the matter and there have been positive results.