Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu, is worried about a visa processing scandal at Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He claims that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government quickly approved a suspicious visa processing contract shortly before leaving office, causing concern among different groups.
Mr. Ablakwa’s social media post on October 17 sparked outrage among diplomats and security officials over the contract with Access Citizens Services Ghana Limited.
He said that this deal could have important effects on national security, data protection, and the financial interests of Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad.
On October 2, 2024, Access Citizens Services Ghana Limited signed a contract to exclusively handle all front-end visa applications worldwide, excluding protocol visas.
Mr. Ablakwa criticized the move, saying it consolidates visa processing in one place and could harm the country’s diplomatic efforts.
He also mentioned that Ghana’s diplomatic missions will need to transfer visa processing responsibilities to Access Citizens within four months after the company sets up Premium Application Centers in each country.
Mr. Ablakwa thinks there are problems with this decision and wants the contract to be examined quickly, especially regarding its impact on Ghana’s foreign relations.
The agreement raises concerns about data protection, national security, and undermines key functions of Ghana’s diplomatic missions. The two parties have agreed to operate under new terms until September 1, 2028, with the option for a 5-year renewal. Under this new agreement, Access Citizens will have complete exclusivity.
Access Citizens have been granted permission by Ghana’s Foreign Ministry to process a minimum of 695,468 visas between September 1, 2023, and September 1, 2028. He disclosed that Ghana’s Foreign Ministry will receive only 3-10% of the fees from visa applicants due to the unfair revenue sharing arrangement in the contract.
Applicants for visas in the UK must now pay £45. Visa applicants in the USA will pay $55, while applicants in Germany and Italy will pay €55. Applicants in China and all other jurisdictions will also pay $55. Access Citizens is projected to earn $38.2 million by September 2028, while Ghana’s Foreign Ministry is only expected to receive $2 million during the same time period.
