'Leave Saudi now or you’re on your own' - Ghanaian embassy in Saudi-Arabia

The Ghanaian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has warned all Ghanaians staying there illegally to take advantage of an amnesty offered by the Arabian Kingdom to return home or be left to their fate after the 90-day window closes.

The Kingdom announced the amnesty in March 2017. The window will be closed on 25 June 2017.

In a statement, the Ghana embassy in Saudi Arabia said: “Since the beginning of the General Amnesty two months ago, the Ghana Embassy in Riyadh and the Ghana Consulate in Jeddah have processed more than five hundred emergency travel documents (Travelers Certificates) for Ghanaians who have violated their residency and work permits, enabling them to take advantage of the General Amnesty to leave the Kingdom.”

The embassy said it is still processing “these emergency travel documents” for Ghanaians who wish to leave at a highly subsidised cost of SR50 (Saudi Riyals) instead of SR200.

The embassy has, therefore, warned that Ghanaian immigrants who fail to return home within the window will be left to their fate.

“Any Ghanaian illegal resident who fails to take advantage of this General Amnesty programme should be ready to face any penalty or consequences thereof as a result of their actions or inactions.

“Both the Embassy and the Consulate should not be blamed for any unforeseen occurrences after the expiration of the General Amnesty program given that the Mission does not have any more resources to troubleshoot self-inflicted consular problems,” the statement signed by acting Head of Mission at the Embassy, Marcel Domayele said.