Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu constituency in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa has reacted to the ongoing debate on the three current MPs and one former MP who are accused of perpetrating visa fraud.
The three MPs, together with a former lawmaker, have been cited in separate alleged visa offences by the UK government and a 10-year visa ban placed on them.
A statement forwarded to the Speaker of Parliament by the UK government through the UK High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Jon Benjamin, said: ”The British High Commission (BHC) would like, in confidence, to bring the following matters to your attention, regarding the apparent involvement of three serving MPs and one former MP in visa fraud directly affecting the United Kingdom.”
The confidential letter said the MPs in question- violated UK visa regulations on different occasions by either providing false information for their visa applications or facilitating the visas of some relatives who overstayed their visas in the UK.
They include: Richard Acheampong, MP for Bia East in the Western Region; Joseph Benhazin Dahah, MP for Asutifi North (Ntotroso) in the Brong Ahafo Region; Johnson Kwaku Adu, MP for Ahafo Ano South West in the Ashanti Region; and George Boakye, former MP for Asunafo South in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The BHC further added that "We are continuing to investigate whether any other current or former MPs have engaged in similar behaviour and will inform you, if we discover any further such cases.
Furthermore, the British High Commission has information that points strongly to some of the aforementioned Honourable members having used the same unofficial visa agent (also known as a‘Goro boy’) in their applications, specifically a gentleman called Appiah. We are sure that Mr Speaker shares our view that an institution as respected and vitally important as the Ghanaian Parliament should not be a location where unregistered visa agents approach Honourable Members and act as a conduit for them to participate in visa fraud."
But in a statement copied to peacefmonline.com, Hon Ablakwa, who is also the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament said "reading through Jon Benjamin's letter however, one cannot help but notice a rather regrettable colonial mindset".
"Quite clearly, to Mr. Jon Benjamin, issuing visas to Ghanaian MPs is such a great favour and a reward for good group behaviour. Therefore, because three sitting MPs may have misconducted themselves, all 275 MPs must now face the Head Master's (if not the colonial Governor's) wrath and sanctions. Such utter disrespect for our Parliament and our country regardless is most unacceptable.
If this is Mr. Benjamin's mindset even in dealing with the people's representatives, then one can begin to wonder how he treats the applications of the people of Ghana".
Read full statement below
I have followed media discussions of British High Commissioner Jon Benjamin's letter to the Speaker of Ghana's Parliament with much interest as the Ranking Member of Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In contrast to those who have questioned why the said confidential letter was leaked to the media, I take a different view. I am elated this letter is now available to the media and the general public for open and frank discussions in the true spirit of transparency and good governance. This must be good for our country.
In any case, before this leak, this was the most poorly kept secret by the British High Commission as many of us including journalists have known about this for a considerable period of time perhaps even before the said 20th January, 2017 letter was written and dispatched to the Right Honourable Speaker.
The other poorly kept secret is the claim that there are some MPs holding dual citizenship in violation of Article 94 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Ghana. Again, I will contend that it's better to see some swift concrete action on this particular issue instead of it being used by some people for smear and blackmail within diplomatic circles. This definitely raises larger issues of how Parliamentary Candidates are vetted within our political parties and the collaborative role of the Electoral Commission, National Security and Diplomatic Missions; a discussion we will have to return to at a later date.
It must be understood very clearly, that if confirmed, what the three sitting Members of Parliament (MP) and a former MP are alleged to have done cannot be endorsed and must deserve strong condemnation and possible sanctions if need be. It is therefore commendable that Mr. Speaker has taken a serious view of this matter and has instituted the needed investigations. This is what is expected of working democracies just as the US Congress is currently doing in the case of General Michael Flynn.
Reading through Jon Benjamin's letter however, one cannot help but notice a rather regrettable colonial mindset. He writes:
"Given what has transpired, the British High Commission would request the Ghanaian Parliament to be aware of the following:
a) we will henceforth only entertain and prioritise requests for visas from MPs, if they are made through the parliamentary protocol office who should verify that there is an official, parliamentary reason for the proposed visit;
b) however, MPs wishing to make private visits to the UK or to be accompanied on official visits by non-official relatives must apply online and through our Visa Application Centre at the Movenpick Hotel like any other applicant;
c) could you kindly confirm whether and why it is legitimate for ex-MPs to continue to possess and use diplomatic passports, in some cases for many years after they have ceased to be parliamentarians? In that regard, we would humbly like to ask, Mr Speaker, what procedures are in place to ensure that diplomatic passports are removed forthwith from all those 133 former Members who have just ceased to be MPs?
d) the net effect of such visa fraud by a very few Honourable MPs as outlined in this letter is to raise the bar of suspicion against all such applicants, which is of course regrettably to the huge disadvantage of those very many MPs who do act honourably at all times."
Quite clearly, to Mr. Jon Benjamin, issuing visas to Ghanaian MPs is such a great favour and a reward for good group behaviour. Therefore, because three sitting MPs may have misconducted themselves, all 275 MPs must now face the Head Master's (if not the colonial Governor's) wrath and sanctions. Such utter disrespect for our Parliament and our country regardless is most unacceptable.
If this is Mr. Benjamin's mindset even in dealing with the people's representatives, then one can begin to wonder how he treats the applications of the people of Ghana.
Never mind that visa application processes are not free and that the high fees most Ghanaians complain about are not refundable to applicants. Never mind that Ghanaians including thousands of fee paying students who travel to Britain do so with our own money which must be of some use to the British economy, Never mind that the UK Parliamentary Expenses Scandal of 2009 involved more than 300 MPs, (NOT 3 as in Ghana's case), with at least 6 of these UK MPs going to jail and yet no bar of suspicion has been raised by any Ghanaian "Head Master" in extending diplomatic courtesies to UK MPs but I guess that is the world we live in.
Mr. Jon Benjamin amazingly had no diplomatic difficulties whatsoever in over stepping boundaries and lecturing our Speaker, our President through his Secretary, our Chief of Staff and our Foreign Minister on how diplomatic passports ought to be used and retrieved. Absolutely unbelievable! And by the way, Mr. Benjamin cannot be right when he asserts that MPs continue to use diplomatic passports "MANY YEARS" after they cease to be MPs when he knows that these diplomatic passports are valid for only five years while admittedly an MPs term is four years. The exaggeration was totally uncalled-for. He also knows that by practice these diplomatic passports are withdrawn upon ceasing to hold public office even if the retrieval is fraught with some challenges as all human institutions encounter.
Even though many of us have had concern about the modus operandi and non-diplomatic tendencies of the top-most British diplomat in Accra, I will not advocate hostility or reciprocal action on British MPs who will require visa services to visit Ghana as some have suggested because it is entirely possible that Mr. Benjamin's conduct and social media pontifications may not represent official British Government position. Fortunately, we have some good recent experience as a country in containing interesting High Commissioners since the days of Craig John Murray and more significantly, we should never forget that their postings to Ghana are not the least permanent.
What is permanent and which we must all continue to cherish is the unique bond of history and friendship that exists between our two countries which must constantly remind us that in the final analysis only mutual respect and equal rights triumph.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP)
Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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A president or former President of Ghana must ideally remain in Ghana and help with the governance of the country. By accepting the position in the English Masonic lodge Kufuor ceases to be a Ghanaian and must therefore lose all rights and privileges accorded former leaders of Ghana. In Ghana we believe that the African is capable of managing his own affairs but we acknowledge our collective deficiencies in knowledge. The Queen of England barred British judges from becoming freemasons because of favors being traded. If the Queen took that action then why should Kufuor still enjoy his right and privileges within Ghana and the African continent. Kufuor must lose access to all sensitive information regarding the government of Ghana and the African Union. With his position in the English freemasonry would our other development partners like USA, China, Denmark, France, AU states trust Ghana. We must act now. The Catholic church has acted first virtually ex-communicating him. O
I understand Ablakwa patriotism is good for every citizen to be patriotic, however, Jon Benjamin sometimes opens his mouth too wide which can affect diplomacy but this time the tone of his message is a wake up call for our political leaders to think about the citizens, enact good laws and create conducive environment (jobs) to reduce many Ghanaians going to look for greener pastures in the UK. If you allow your citizens to use crude means travelling through Lybia, crossing the scary Meditterean sea to reach Europe. Do you expect Jon Benjamin to respect Ghana?
If and MP lies to get visa, do you expect the ambassador to respect you? My deceassed goaat has more sense than Ablakwa
ablakwa is being stuuuuupid. If your MPs lie to join the brain drain, why should the foreign ambassador respect you?
Just come to think of this, if we have a vice president who can lie as if there will be no tomorrow, what do you think a member of parliament do? In Okujato's article, he mentioned a few imprisoned British MPs. Do we have that in Ghana? even clear day light frauds in our GH parliament go unpunished. Woe unto you if you are a MP and decide to blow the cover of our MPs, you will be humiliated and asked to apologise. Do yo think the world is not watching. May God help us.
On this singular effort, Hon. Okudjeto Ablakwa has proved his patriotism to Ghana. the utter disrespect of Ghanaians seeking to migrate for greener pastures ought to be addressed by our parliament. MPs please create the enabling environment for our own good. After disrespecting the regular citizenry, Hon. Jon Benjamin feels a developed Diplomatic muscle to disrespect our parliament. A strong wake up call for MPs and all leaders to build Ghana better.
@Anim you said it all. Can you imagine a Ghanaian ambassador writing this letter to the UK Parliament, US senate or the Duma in Russia? And in the case of the US, the ambassador copying Donald Trump? Our country has zero respect and a huge part of this is due to our politicians. Look at the amount of time and resources we spent on this Ayariga allegation that Ablakwa supported. Do you think this Benjamin guy will take us serious?
This Benjamin guy has been doing this non.sens.e in Ghana for a long time. He is more of a troll than an Ambassador and it is sad that a country of strategic importance like the great Britain would have such a c.lown as an ambassador. But can you blame him? Do we as Ghanaians look out for our nation's interest? Do you think people will queue at embassies if life in Ghana was good? Wasn't this same Ablakwa defending foreign companies when the issue of fraudulent judgement debts came up? 60 years after independence, if our politicians (NDC/NPP/CPP/ZZZ etc) have showed a modicum of selflessness for Ghana we won't be slaving in other countries. Yes Jon Benjamin has a colonial mindset because our independence was only on paper. We are still slaves in our own country. Our own people have sold us to foreigners.
great piece. well argued
I'm wondering if this Ablakwa guy was raised to call an axe an AXE and a spade a SPADE!! Hear him talk about colonial mindset when an MP lies on an official document and when Jon Benjamin questions why former MPs keep diplomatic passports! Wait a minute... is that the kind of people we've mandated to manage the affairs of our dear nation? What good can they offer? No wonder Ghana is where it is today! A big shame on this Ablakwa guy