‘You’re absolutely wrong’ - Ablakwa challenges former Deputy Minister on NPP visa time claim

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has rejected claims from former Deputy Foreign Minister Charles Owiredu. Owiredu suggested that Ghanaian visas were processed in 2 to 5 days under the previous Akufo-Addo administration.

Ablakwa recently announced that visa applications will now be processed within 2 to 5 days. He credits this improvement to reforms by the current government.

Owiredu argued that the 2–5 day timeframe was standard during the New Patriotic Party (NPP) tenure.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ablakwa responded, saying, “Honourable former Deputy Minister, you know you are absolutely wrong on this.” He added that official embassy websites from the NPP era contradict Owiredu’s claim.

To support his argument, Ablakwa referenced data from several Ghanaian missions abroad. He stated, “Our embassy websites do not confirm your grossly incorrect claim of 2–5 days for standard visa applications when your party was in power.”

He highlighted the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C., which listed processing times of 15 to 20 business days. The New York embassy required three weeks. Germany's embassy stated 15 business days and the UK High Commission listed 15 working days.

“These are just a few websites exposing your misleading presentation,” he asserted.

This exchange underscores ongoing political disputes over service delivery records at Ghana’s foreign missions.

Ablakwa’s reforms aim to speed up visa processing and enhance consular services. They are seen as a key commitment of the new administration to improve service quality.

The Ministry is focused on backing its initiatives with data and challenging opposition figures to engage with facts rather than nostalgia.