The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Ghana has indicated that they are disappointed in the action of the United State, to place a visa sanction on Ghana, for an alleged lack of adequate cooperation in accepting Ghanaians who have been ordered to be removed from the US.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday, February 1, 2019, the implementation of visa sanctions on Ghana due to lack of cooperation in accepting their nationals ordered to be removed from the United States.
The Foreign Ministry in a statement said they have always cooperated with the US authorities in the processing and removal of Ghana citizens who have been cited for deportation from the US to Ghana.
The statement added that as at 8th January 2019, the Ghana Washington mission received 28 applications from the US authorities, out of which 19 had been interviewed and 11 travelling certificates issued for their travel to Ghana.
According to the statement, the outstanding applications are as a result of doubts on their Ghanaian nationality, ill health and pending litigation in US courts.
The Foreign Ministry expressed disappointment in the US in ignoring international protocols that need to be observed in the matters of deportation and make allegations of lack of cooperation by Ghana.
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“It is, therefore, surprising that the US Authorities would ignore the international protocols that need to be observed in matters of deportation and make allegations of lack of cooperation by Ghana. The Ministry wishes to state that these allegations are unfounded and the sanctions imposed on Ghana are without any justification whatsoever.â€
“The Ministry is assessing the situation and would institute appropriate measures within the context of international law and the bilateral relations between Ghana and the United States in due course,†the statement added.