Speaking on Amenado Radio in Colorado, USA, the MP enumerated certain strategies the government has put in place to ensure efficient and effective operations of Ghana’s missions abroad.
Responding to issues concerning the diaspora, ranging from state of Ghana’s foreign mission through to passport and visa acquisition to the Representation of People Amendment Act (ROPAA), Mr. Annor-Dompreh said his committee have plans to travel to New York, USA next month to assess the efficiency of the facilities and the performance of employees as part of their studies to identify problems and address them accordingly.
“My brother, I will lead a delegation to New York in March purposely to study the performance of our mission and the efficiency of the facilities. We will then interface the outcome with their core responsibilities to determine what we need to fix to ensure smooth customer service. They are there because of you, Ghanaians abroad and it is pathetic to hear that they refuse to pick your phone calls and listen to your concerns. This is not acceptable, and something must be done about it”, he said.
Explaining NPP’s administration plans further, he noted that, the government will continue with the US$ 50 million facility project which was initiated by the previous NDC government for the refurbishment of 31 of Ghana’s foreign missions, a new foreign affairs institute, and a new regime for obtaining a passport within and outside Ghana.
Mr. Annor-Dompreh lamented that the government has commitment to build on economic diplomacy and seek value from our diplomats.
The Nsawam-Adoagyiri legislator, assured Ghanaians abroad that his committee would hold the diplomats accountable through the ministry of foreign affairs and regional integration. According to him, Ghana’s foreign image is peaking under president Akufo-Addo’s administration and Ghanaians across the world should have the reason to be proud of Ghana.
Mr. Annor-Dompreh revealed that, Akufo-Addo government has had more high profile foreign visit within a year in office than any other government of Ghana and this shows great and high diplomatic relations and good ties he has with them.
Touching on passports, he said currently there is massive improvement in the process of acquisition of Ghanaian passport.
“Now there are two methods you can choose from when applying for your passport, that is biometric and online.
We are now piloting with the Greater Accra region for the online, and will add six regions when it is successful, before we add all the regions”, he noted.
The biometric takes about two weeks to complete the process”, he added.
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By: Sammy Lou/Frontpageghana.com/Ghana
