The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, has ordered embassy officers in Ghana to implement the visa restrictions on certain categories of visa applicants, according to a US Department of Homeland Security statement.
“Pursuant to her authority under Section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen notified Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the Government of Ghana has denied or unreasonably delayed accepting their nationals ordered removed from the United States.” The statement explained.
In addition, the statement warned that Ghana faced more sanctions if the government’s posture did not change.
“Without an appropriate response from Ghana, the scope of these sanctions may be expanded to a wider population. The sanctions will remain in place until the Secretary of Homeland Security notifies Secretary Pompeo that cooperation on removals has improved to an acceptable level.”
“Ghana has failed to live up to its obligations under international law to accept the return of its nationals ordered removed from the United States.” Kirstjen Nielsen of Homeland Security disclosed.
“The United States routinely cooperates with foreign governments in documenting and accepting U.S. citizens when asked, as appropriate, as do the majority of countries in the world, but Ghana has failed to do so in this case. We hope the Ghanaian government will work with us to reconcile these deficiencies quickly.” The Secretary of Homeland Security stated.
Background
Indications from as far back as 2017 indicated that 7,000 Ghanaians were facing deportation.
The then-US ambassador to Ghana, Robert P. Jackson, said the 7,000 were guilty of various immigration offences and had abused the terms of their visas.
At the time, he said the Ghanaians were at different stages of the deportation process.
The Government was at the time also concerned with reports of the ill-treatment of Ghanaians deported by the US government.
Robert Jackson was invited by the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament to give clarity on reported ill-treatment of deportees.
There were reports that a batch of deportees in 2017 were handcuffed and forced aboard the plane to Ghana, though the US Embassy denied that any inhumane treatment took place.
Ghana’s Ambassador to the US, Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Bawuah, had also suggested that he was under pressure from US authorities to sanction the deportation of Ghanaians.
Those revelations came amid accusations that the US was trying to bully Ghana by threatening visa restrictions.
Robert Jackson retorted that the US was only seeking to enforce its immigration rules and not to threaten Ghana with visa restrictions.
He said the US just wanted the government to speed up the process for issuing travel documents to the Ghanaians scheduled for deportation.
Nana Yaw Berfi (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
)
Ghana hit with US Visa sanctions
- Friday, Feb 01 2019
- Silver Online Admin
Ghana has been hit with Visa sanctions by the United States of America for its purported lack of cooperation in accepting Ghanaians deported from the US.
Tweet
Leave a comment
Newspaper Headlines
Audio: Silver News 06-11-2018 6am
Read More News
-
AirtelTigo to delight Customers in the ‘Month of Love’
Telecom operator AirtelTigo has launched a campaign themed “Share the…
-
When Caleb Giftan insisted on taking his books to the…
Dr. Light praised for helping patient to prepare for BECE
-
The Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ) has lauded…
IFEJ commends GCB for Media support
-
65 years old Widow loses life savings to termites
A 65-year-old widow, Fatima Nyande, has lost her life savings…
-
A jealous girlfriend in Takoradi has completely bitten off the…
Jealous Nurse chews lip of a Hairdresser in Takoradi
-
Mobile telecommunication giant, Vodafone Ghana, has opened a new retail…
Vodafone opens new retail shop in Kumasi
-
The Kasapreko Company limited together with its partners Tetra Pak…
Kasapreko and partners launches new Juice Line
-
Four Mobile Network Operators who were sanctioned by the National…
Four Telcos seek redress over NCA sanctions
Other Menus
News Archive
- February 2019 (2)
- January 2019 (69)
- December 2018 (62)
- November 2018 (41)
- October 2018 (36)
- September 2018 (25)
- August 2018 (44)
- July 2018 (40)
- June 2018 (50)
- May 2018 (86)
- April 2018 (63)
- March 2018 (74)