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Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has rubbished the report by the United States of America to withdraw diplomatic courtesies to Ghana’s former Presidents and Members of Parliament.

The government of the United States of America (USA) is reported to have withdrawn diplomatic courtesies to Ghana’s former Presidents and Members of Parliament.

This means that, henceforth, the affected persons, by this diplomatic decision, would have to be at the US Embassy in person to acquire their visas when on private trips or alternatively schedule private arrangement with the embassy for their visas.

This was disclosed in Accra yesterday by the US Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Robert Jackson, when he met Parliament’s select Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“For personal travels, every person is required to make a personal appearance. So there are no exceptions,” Mr. Jackson told the lawmakers.

Before this decision, Protocol Officers at the Foreign Affairs Ministry were mandated to secure visas for the travelling state officials but that arrangement has been reviewed.

“Pursuant to worldwide guidance from the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, protocol officers will no longer be allowed inside the consular waiting area to accompany visa applicants.”

"Protocol officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration will [only] be allowed into the consular waiting area in order to deliver and pick up passports and documents,” the letter read.