The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has firmly refuted claims that it entered into a $38.2 million contract with Access Services Ghana Limited, a company accused of having no track record in managing visa applications.
These allegations were brought forward by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, who suggested that the Ministry had signed a dubious deal with the company, bypassing the necessary approval processes and raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
Ablakwa alleged that the contract with Access Services Ghana Limited, which was reportedly aimed at managing visa applications for Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad, was signed without the approval of the Public Procurement Authority. He also claimed that the agreement failed to secure parliamentary approval, which is typically required for such government contracts. According to him, this raised serious concerns about whether the deal provided value for money, particularly given the company’s lack of experience in the sector.
In response to these accusations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration issued a rejoinder on Friday, October 18, categorically denying the claims made by the MP. The Ministry labeled the allegations as “largely incorrect and calculated to deliberately mislead the public.” The statement was clear in its rejection of the narrative presented by Ablakwa, asserting that the facts had been distorted to paint a false picture of the Ministry’s intentions and actions.
“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has been drawn to online publications by Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency, on the above-mentioned subject,” the Ministry stated. “The article purported to give details of an agreement between the Ministry and Access Services Ghana Limited (Access). The Ministry wishes to put across that the facts as purported in the said article are largely incorrect and calculated to deliberately mislead the public on the intent of the Ministry.”
One of the central points of contention in Ablakwa’s allegations was the financial arrangement between the Ministry and Access Services Ghana Limited. He claimed that, based on his financial analysis, Access Services would rake in about $38.2 million between now and September 2028, while Ghana’s Foreign Ministry would struggle to receive a mere $2 million out of the deal. However, the Ministry dismissed this assertion as “grossly misleading.”
“The claim by Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that per his ‘conservative financial analysis Access Citizens would be raking about US$ 38.2 million between now and September 2028 while Ghana’s Foreign Ministry struggles to get a measly US$ 2 million out of that’ is grossly misleading,” the Ministry said in its statement.
The Ministry further clarified the nature of the agreement with Access Services Ghana Limited. According to the Ministry, the company’s role is to provide premium front-end visa application services using its own facilities and personnel, with users of the service paying fees that vary depending on the country. These fees range from $45 to $55 or €55, with Ghana’s Missions abroad receiving $7 or €7 from each transaction. The Ministry emphasized that the revenue generated from this arrangement constitutes an additional stream of income for Ghana’s Missions, contradicting Ablakwa’s claim that the Missions would be left with a paltry sum compared to the earnings of Access Services.
“The agreement with Access allows for the provision of premium front-end visa application services by the company with its own facilities and personnel at an agreed fee to the user of their service, varying from $45, $55, and €55 depending on the country, with the Missions involved receiving £7, $7, and €7 out of these fees in the respective currency zones,” the Ministry explained. “Thus, the amount Access pays to Ghana’s Missions abroad provides the Missions with an additional stream of revenue. This is contrary to the view held by Hon. Ablakwa that what Access pays to these Missions constitutes their only source of funds.”
The Ministry also defended the contract by pointing out that the services provided by Access Services Ghana Limited are comparable to those offered by other well-known visa processing companies, such as VFS Global and TLSContact. These companies manage visa applications for foreign embassies in Ghana, and their services are frequently used by Ghanaians who are applying for visas to travel abroad. The Ministry stressed that the arrangement with Access aligns with international standards for visa processing, which often involve third-party companies managing the receipt of visa applications and the collection of biometric data.
It added that the arrangement with Access Services Ghana Limited is in line with global best practices, where third-party visa application centres are utilized to streamline the visa application process. This not only ensures a smoother experience for applicants but also allows diplomatic missions to focus on other core diplomatic activities. The Ministry highlighted that this model is widely used across the world and provides a necessary service to both the applicants and the missions involved.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has taken a strong stance in denying the allegations made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. By refuting claims of financial mismanagement and lack of transparency, the Ministry has sought to reassure the public that its actions are in line with global standards and that the agreement with Access Services Ghana Limited provides a valuable service to Ghanaians seeking visas, while also generating additional revenue for Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad.
