Dennis Miracles Aboagye, a former presidential staffer in the Akufo-Addo government, has commented on the recent modifications to U.S. visa regulations for Ghanaian applicants and accused Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry of inciting the reaction with its own activities.
Mr. Aboagye denied claims in a social media statement that the U.S. government’s decision to restrict the majority of Ghanaian visa applicants to three-month single-entry visas is related to student overstays.
He claims that reciprocity—a diplomatic practice in which nations mirror one other’s visa requirements—is the true problem.
“Ignore the Government Communications Minister; he’s not being entirely truthful with the facts on the US visa sanction.
“Fact is that the U.S. government is simply responding and giving us back what we gave them. It’s called reciprocity,” he said.
According to reports, Ghana granted US nationals five-year multiple-entry visas until recently.
Mr. Aboagye asserts, however, that Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister changed this policy, lowering it to a three-month single-entry visa, which he believes led to a reciprocal response from the United States.
He added, “It is not true that it’s because of our students who overstay.
“That’s false. There are 36 countries on the overstaying list, including Ghana, but they have not all been subjected to this new visa rule. Gabon, Senegal, Egypt, Djibouti, Liberia, and others are also on the list but remain unaffected.”
Mr. Aboagye contends that the restricted shift is only due to recent modifications made by the Ministry regarding visas for U.S. nationals.
He warned the Foreign Affairs Minister against using what he called a “macho style” in his diplomatic approach.
“The simple advice to the Foreign Minister is to slow down on his public utterances, restore the 5-year multiple visa for U.S. citizens, and allow diplomacy to take its proper course.”
He emphasized in his conclusion that emotional intelligence and subtlety, not forceful words, are key components of successful diplomacy, “Diplomacy is tact and heavy emotional intelligence — quick to hear, slow to speak, and timely action.”
In a major shift from the previous arrangement that permitted Ghanaian travelers to enter the country numerous times during a five-year period, the U.S. Department of State has confirmed that the new policy applies to the majority of non-immigrant visa categories, including F-1 student visas and B-class (business and tourism) visas.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Joseph Asare
