The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has vehemently denied allegations made by Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa regarding a $38.2 million contract with Access Services Ghana Limited.
Ablakwa had claimed that the Ministry had entered into a dubious contract with Access Services Ghana Limited for managing visa applications for diplomatic missions abroad.
He alleged that the company lacked a proven track record and that the contract was awarded without proper approval, raising concerns about value for money and transparency.
In a rejoinder, the Ministry described Ablakwa’s allegations as “largely incorrect and calculated to deliberately mislead the public.” They clarified that the agreement with Access Services Ghana Limited was for the provision of premium front-end visa application services using their own facilities and personnel. The Ministry emphasized that the agreement was aligned with global standards for visa application processing and provided an additional revenue stream for Ghana’s missions abroad.
The Ministry further refuted Ablakwa’s claim that Access Services Ghana Limited would be raking in exorbitant profits while Ghana’s Foreign Ministry struggled to secure adequate funding.
They explained that the fees charged by Access Services Ghana Limited were comparable to those offered by other third-party visa application centers and that the Ministry received a portion of these fees.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has categorically denied the allegations made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa regarding the contract with Access Services Ghana Limited.
They have provided a detailed explanation of the agreement and its terms, emphasizing that the arrangement is transparent and aligned with international best practices.
