Former Presidents and Members of Parliament are expected to join the queue like ordinary Ghanaians when applying for US visas for their private visits.

This is because the US embassy has withdrawn courtesies which were hitherto extended to officials in the country on such visits to their country.

This was announced by the United States Ambassador to Ghana Robert Jackson when he appeared before the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament on Thursday 22 June, 2017.

Mr Jackson told parliament the embassy would process visas for officials travelling for government business within 48 hours of receipt of their passports from the Protocol Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but officials travelling on private business will have to go through the process like any ordinary citizen.

“Now if you are travelling for tourism or business that is not related to government business, you will need to make a personal appearance. I want to reiterate, for official travel, protocol officers pass the passports for visa applications through the foreign ministry and the foreign ministry’s protocol officers bring it to us. But for personal travel, every person is required to make a personal appearance, even former presidents of Ghana have to come in for personal appearance,” he stated.

It is unclear what triggered this latest diplomatic action by the embassy, but Class News sources say some officials abused the previous arrangement.

This comes after the British High Commission accused four MPs of flouting the country’s visa regulations.