Ablakwa Tours Visa Centres Across Accra, Calls for Better Treatment of Applicants

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has visited more than 20 embassies and visa application centres across Accra to assess the conditions Ghanaian applicants face when applying for visas.

The Minister undertook the working visit on Monday, October 5, 2026, accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The visit gave Mr Ablakwa an opportunity to see the visa application process for himself and speak directly with applicants about their experiences, concerns and expectations.

Speaking to the media after the exercise, the Minister said the dignity and welfare of Ghanaian visa applicants had been a key concern for him since taking office.

He said he had earlier called on diplomatic missions to address long delays in securing visa appointments and improve arrangements for applicants who often have to wait for extended periods, sometimes under difficult weather conditions.

While acknowledging improvements at some missions, Mr Ablakwa said others still had work to do to ensure applicants are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

He made it clear that the government would not interfere in the visa decisions of foreign missions.

According to him, diplomatic missions have the sole responsibility to determine who qualifies for their visas. His role, he said, is to ensure that the process leading to those decisions does not compromise the dignity and welfare of Ghanaian citizens.

During the tour, Mr Ablakwa interacted with several applicants and listened to their concerns. He said their experiences would be shared with the relevant diplomatic missions as part of efforts to improve the overall process.

The Minister said he would engage the heads of the affected diplomatic missions in the coming days to discuss the findings from his visit and seek practical solutions to the challenges identified.

He stressed that the exercise was not about questioning the authority of foreign missions to grant or refuse visas, but about encouraging better service and more humane conditions for applicants.

Mr Ablakwa described the inspection as an important first step towards improving Ghana's visa application environment and expressed hope that continued engagement with diplomatic missions would result in concrete changes.

The visit follows concerns raised by some visa applicants over long appointment waiting times, queues and inadequate waiting conditions at some centres in Accra.

The Minister said the welfare of Ghanaian citizens remains a priority and urged diplomatic missions to work with the Ghanaian government to ensure that visa application processes are not only efficient but also respectful and dignified.