Ghana’s foreign policy must prioritise citizens -Quayson

Parliament on Friday vetted four presidential nominees appointed by President John Dramani Mahama.

The Deputy Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, answering questions from the appointments committee, said he believed that most of these so-called advanced countries were milking Ghanaians with visa application fees.

According to the Assin North MP, “most of these countries are using that as revenue to support their embassies and if “We don’t know that and we think that, they are rich countries so they are able to afford to set up embassies here in Ghana, that is not the case, most of the revenues are coming from us Ghanaians to support their embassies, and we’ve got to find a way to put an end to that.”

He was answering questions on whether he would push for a policy to ensure that visa application fees were refunded by foreign embassies when the application is denied.

Mr Quayson said, “I think it is an administrative sector policy” that ought to be looked at.

“On average, most African youth, because of a lack of opportunities, want to travel outside. A visa is not cheap. Even just the application form alone is about $160, which could be a month or two months’ pay for some of our youth on labour, and these embassies are collecting this money and denying almost 90 to 95 per cent of them their rightful visas,” he added.

He indicated that the country has to find a way to streamline this to save the youth, saying most of these countries are using that as revenue to support their embassies, if care is not taken people may think the rich countries are setting up their embassies to streamline the activities of foreigners wanting to enter their countries.

“That’s not the case because most of these revenues are coming from us to support their embassies, and we’ve got to find a way to put an end to that,” he added.

“Foreign policy is not about protecting foreign nations only. First and foremost, it should be protecting us; it should be reciprocated. Our domestic policy is what we extend to the foreign policy,” he added.

The other appointees vetted were Dorcas Afo-Toffey, Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro, as Deputy Minister of Transport; Mohammed Adam Sukparu (MP) for Sissala West for the position of Deputy Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations and Grace Ayensu-Danquah (MP) for Essikado-Ketan as Deputy Minister of Health.