Over 35,000 Ghanaians are granted visas to the United Kingdom every year by the British High Commission in Accra. Nearly the same number of visa applicants are refused permits to travel to the United Kingdom, because they do not qualify.

This was disclosed by the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr. Rod Pullen. Dr. Pullen who was speaking in an interview with JOY FM’s correspondent, Phillip Nyakpo in Takoradi said the High Commission has been concerned about a number of misunderstandings associated with the acquisition of visas.

Dr. Rod Pullen said one of such misperception is that the British High Commission has a limit on the number of visas it grants each year. He noted that the High Commission operates under laws promulgated by the British legislature, which does not put any limit on the number of visas to be issued, saying every visa applicant is treated equally.

Dr Pullen said the number of Ghanaians resident in the UK is estimated at 200,000, and this is reflected in the number of Ghanaians in want of UK visas, back home.

He noted that the Commission is now operating a system where almost every applicant who submits an application is informed within 24 hours whether a visa is going to be issued or not.

Dr Pullen emphasised that the UK refuses visas only when applicants do not meet visa requirements.

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