The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has firmly refuted allegations made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, concerning a purported breach of procurement laws in the agreement with Access Citizens Services Ghana Limited. On October 17, Ablakwa accused the Ministry of entering into a “single-sourced sweetheart contract” that circumvented the Public Procurement Authority of Ghana and did not undergo the necessary parliamentary scrutiny. He was particularly concerned about the swift signing of the agreement, amended on October 2, which grants Access Citizens exclusive rights to manage visa processing for five years without adequate oversight.
In his statements, Ablakwa voiced grave concerns over what he perceived as a lack of transparency and insufficient consultation with Ghana’s diplomatic missions prior to finalizing the agreement. He argued that the arrangement could expose vulnerabilities in national security and data protection. Additionally, Ablakwa accused the Ministry of undermining the operational efficacy of Ghana’s diplomatic missions, suggesting that the move jeopardizes their internally generated funds (IGF) by sidelining their operations in favor of the private company. The MP’s assertions painted a troubling picture of how the government was handling visa processing and the potential implications for Ghanaian citizens.
Responding to these allegations on October 18, the Ministry rejected the accusations of misconduct and defended the integrity of the contract with Access Citizens Services. The Ministry emphasized that the agreement aligns with global standards in visa processing, and they noted that similar arrangements are in place at foreign embassies operating within Ghana. According to their statement, the partnership with Access Citizens is an effort to streamline visa application processing, ensuring efficiency while adhering to established international practices that involve the use of third-party visa application centers to manage administrative tasks such as application collection and biometric data capture.
The Ministry clarified that while Access Citizens would handle the front-end services of visa management, all applications would still be subject to review and approval by Ghana’s diplomatic missions, thereby maintaining oversight of the application process. This distinction was underscored to dispel any notions that the agreement would undermine the role of Ghana’s missions. Furthermore, the Ministry’s posited that the strategy is geared towards enhancing service delivery to applicants and improving revenue generation for the country’s diplomatic missions abroad.
Addressing the specific procurement process concerns raised by Ablakwa, the Ministry sidestepped direct confirmation of whether the agreement adhered to the protocols mandated by the Public Procurement Authority. However, they insisted that the focus remained on improving the overall efficiency of consular services and generating additional income streams for the missions. As part of the arrangement, Ghana’s diplomatic missions would receive financial compensation amounting to £7, $7, and €7 for each application processed, establishing a potentially lucrative source of revenue that counters the allegations that the agreement would financially harm these missions.
In conclusion, the ongoing conflict between MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlights the complexities involved in establishing public-private partnerships in the context of government services. The Ministry’s staunch defense of its actions contrasts sharply with the apprehensions voiced by Ablakwa regarding transparency and oversight in the procurement process. As this situation unfolds, the implications for Ghanaian diplomatic missions, the efficacy of their operations, and the trust of the public in governmental processes remain critical points of contention that will require ongoing scrutiny and dialogue.
