The ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said Ghana-U.S. relations under President Donald Trump is not as it used to be and “we need to confront that.”
Mr Ablakwa said the visa restrictions imposed on Ghana does not speak well about the bilateral relations between the two countries and both countries must be sincere about the “frosty” nature of their relationship.
Mr Ablakwa said this in an interview with Class News’ Ekow Annan and Emily Topping in reaction to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, address to Ghana’s parliament on Wednesday, 31 July 2019.
Despite applauding Ms Pelosi for her vast knowledge in Ghana-US relations, Mr Ablakwa complained that immigration was not brought up once during the address.
“I must say I was quite disappointed with two issues she didn’t speak to, which is the visa restrictions against Ghana,” said the North Tongu lawmaker.
He continued: “our constituents as a house are really concerned about this matter, things appear to be getting out of control. I’m getting reports of many Ghanaians who are not being treated fairly, people who have five years visa going for renewal are given one month, some are not given at all…so its clear that Ghana-US relations under President Trump is not really as it used to be and we need to confront that. It is getting quite frosty, this visa restrictions doesn’t speak well about Ghana-US relations, it doesn’t show that all is well and we have to be sincere in confronting that fact.”
In February, the U.S. attempted to deport some 4,000 people claiming to be Ghanaians from its borders—when Ghana refused to accept the return of the immigrants, the U.S. embassy placed visa restrictions on Ghana.
Mr Ablakwa expressed further disappointment that Ms Pelosi did not speak on Trump’s “hardline-immigration policies.”
“We’ve been told 7000 Ghanaians have been earmarked for deportation and our government is contesting the figure and the nationality of a lot of those people claiming to be Ghanaians…I know she [Pelosi] wanted to stay on the positives and not mar the occasion but a little assurance that she is aware of the concerns that we have, that’s what democracy is about, they control the house and, so, they [democrats] can bring pressure to bear on the republicans on President Trump to change course and take a different posture when it comes to Ghana-US relations especially on these two issues,” Mr Ablakwa stated.
Ms Pelosi was in the country for a 4-day official visit accompanied with by U.S. Congressional Black Caucus. The visit dovetailed into the government’s ‘Year of Return’ programme – an open invitation to the black community in America to return to the motherland – Ghana.
Source: classfmonline.com
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Let Ablakwa try confronting Trump. You see, they're just after Visa, now that they cannot steal monies and have a place like the US to go spend the loot! The krooks could have easily turn Ghana into a place like the US if they hadn't stolen everything from 1966 to date. Crying over Visa! The idea of going to spend time in a country someone else did everything to make good through patriotism, laws and hard work. Is that not shameful?
Mrs Pelosi is a Stateswoman and she rightly did not find it appropriate to use Ghana Parliament as a plattform to speak to US Immigration policy let alone to use it to do opposition politicking. It is only NDC which uses every plattform to run her country down beyond all odds of opposition politicking. Unfortunately,Statesmanship in practice is alien to the NDC.
Waaaa look at this boy too, even all is not well with USA - China relations, so what’s the big deal?
As for these nation wreckers they are wishing evil and bad omen on this nation. Ablakwa and his evil group will fail because they've tried many times, including painting a gloomy picture about Ghana to the diplomatic community but failed. The fruitless trip Ablakwa and his NDC made to the US to thwart the efforts of govt on the sino-hydro project also failed. His teeth like okusie
Did the US Speaker visit Iran? If the relationship between Ghana and US is not good, do you think Nancy Pelosi would have come to Ghana or Ghana would have invited her and Congressional delegation? What sort of mischief is this? Who can tell Donald Trump not enforce US immigration laws? I am surprised NDC Foreign Affairs Spokesman speaks like this
Always pretending to know meanwhile he does not know anything as usual the media too will give him space. Any time i hear his voice on Radio i change to a different channel. Is it ahoyia that NPP is in power and high powered delegation has visited so he has to find a way to belittle it. Come on boy grow up and stop this pettiness.
This my brother always approaching journalist so that he can be heard. If the relationship is not good US will never sent a strong delegation led by not less a person than the speaker of their parliament (congress).When you were benefiting from judgement debt ***barred word*** you never engaged any media people. US internal laws that regulate immigration can never be confronted, so also US can never tell us not to deport anybody.My brother be wise and stop dwelling on trivial issues.Tell your constituents what you have done with your MP's common fund.
As for NDC, they do not understand ANYTHING! Only create, loot & share they believe in!
Ablakwa does not understand and is confusing issues. Immigration is just one aspect of Ghana's relationship with U.S. Enforcing US laws has nothing to do with Ghana as it affects all countries whose citizens live in the US. Those Ghanaians affected by Trump administration policies have recourse to US courts. Why do they seek redress, if their rights are being tramped upon? Confronting US government is not a way to go and he is absolute wrong on that. There is no basis for such confrontation. If Ablakwa has nothing good to say about the successful visit by Nancy Pelosi and the congressional delegation, he should keep quiet.