Ablakwa to engage embassies over poor visa services after 20-mission tour

Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says some foreign embassies in Ghana must improve their visa services after he visited more than 20 embassies and visa application centres.

Speaking after the working visit on Monday, October 5, 2026, the Minister said while some missions had improved their services, others appeared to be going backwards.



He said the situation was particularly worrying for students who had already paid their tuition fees but were still without visa appointment dates.

According to him, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects Ghanaian visa applicants to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of whether their applications are eventually approved or rejected.

“What we will not accept is more treatment, disrespect, inhumane treatment and just total disregard for the well-being and the welfare of Ghanaian visa applicants,” he said.

Ablakwa said the visit was part of efforts to assess the conditions applicants face when seeking visas, including waiting areas, online appointment delays and long waiting periods.

He explained that Ghana respected the right of foreign missions to decide who qualifies for a visa, just as Ghanaian embassies have the right to make similar decisions in other countries.

“Those are sovereign decisions that are well within the rights of these embassies to determine. However, what we will not accept is more treatment, disrespect, inhumane treatment,” he stated.

The minister said he would invite some ambassadors and high commissioners to his office to discuss the findings from the visits and areas where improvements were needed.

He, however, declined to name the countries involved, saying he wanted to give them the opportunity to improve without affecting Ghana’s cordial relations with them.

“I want to give everybody the benefit to improve and to come along,” Ablakwa said, adding that Ghana’s foreign policy remained focused on friendship and cordial relations with countries around the world.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has warned foreign embassies and consulates against mistreating Ghanaian visa applicants.

After visiting about 20 missions in Accra, he said Ghana will not tolerate unfair treatment of its citizens and warned that ambassadors of non-compliant missions could be summoned.

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— GHANA CHRONICLES (@_GhChronicles) October 5, 2026