News:
February 19, 2019
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has dismissed the ideas of Ghana flexing muscles with the United States of America over their imposition of visa restrictions on some category of Ghanaians.
As a result of Ghana not complying with international obligation regarding the issuance of travel documents to Ghanaians awaiting deportation in the USA.
In an interview with members of the Parliamentary press corps, she noted that, “restriction has been placed on us, let us work together and see how we can get it off on us”.
“America is a key ally to Ghana, and Ghana is a key ally to America, we do not need all these things to hamper our relations”.
When questioned, if Ghana cannot flex muscles with the USA, she responded, “really, I do not think that is the way to go, are you dealing with arms length, there are more Ghanaians wanting to go there, than they wanting to come here”
She further pointed out that, in diplomacy there is reciprocity; you need to look at the circumstances before you take certain decisions.
As to whether the US government has been fair to Ghana, “It is a difficult question to ask, as someone who leads the Foreign Ministry, we have asked them to provide us with the list it is not faire to go ahead with the restriction slapped on us”
“We have been engaged in negotiation, for them to understand that, we have process to follow and it is not an overnight process, it takes a bit of time once they appreciate that they would understand where we are coming from”, she lamented.
According to the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, authenticating who a Ghanaian is takes a process and added that Ghana is cooperating with the US, as it has done over the years.
“I am at a lost as to what is required of us we do not have that long list of seven thousand Ghanaian awaiting deportation when we have it would be processed”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com