Ghana is to open a new consular office in Glasgow , Scotland, in the ssss United Kingdom as from January next year to facilitate diplomatic functions in the area.

This follows a study by the Foreign Office and the high demand of consular activities as well as communications and efficient relationships between the Ghanaian community and the Ghana Mission in the UK.

Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Professor Kwaku Danso Boafo disclosed this at a forum of members of the Ghanaian community in the British Midlands in Liverpool.

The forum which was organised by the Merseyside Association of Ghanaians was attended by hundreds of Ghanaians living in Liverpool, Manchester and their vicinities.

Glasgow, with a population of around 580,000, is Scotland's largest city and is also the commercial capital. Scotland is one of countries forming the UK. The capital is the UK's largest retail centre after London. It is one of Europe's top 20 financial centres and is home to many of Scotland's leading businesses. Currently it is estimated that about 3,000 Ghanaians reside in the Glasgow area alone, half of whom are known to be professionals.

The opening of the consular therefore will help meet the challenges facing Ghanaians in the area, regarding visa and passport services as well as other diplomatic needs.

“Ghanaians and other nationals who may need the services of the Ghanaian mission in the UK will not necessarily have to travel eight hours from Glasgow to London and back to seek such services”. The High Commissioner observed.

Special duties revolving around diplomatic relations between Ghana and the UK will however be run normally from the London offices of the High Commission. Professor Danso Boafo indicated that there was the need for diplomatic and consular services to be available to all Ghanaians regardless of where they live. He expressed the optimism that the consular office when opened will also facilitate trade and tourism promotions of Ghana in that part of the United Kingdom.

He said it will also release a reasonable level of pressure off officials of the London Office of the Ghana High Commission in terms of the high volume of passport and visa applications processed there. “It will therefore mean that officials can now work faster on visa and passport applications for our people.” He noted.

The High Commissioner also announced the readiness of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consider the opening of one more consular office in the British Midlands to be sited in either Manchester or Liverpool. He explained that the Ghanaian population in the Midlands of the UK and the proximity to London, where the nearest consular services are available, among other factors srequire a setting up of a consular office in the area just as in the case of Glasgow. Professor Danso Boafo noted that the days when staff of the mission lord over the citizens were over. “We are your servants and you have to demand a service require of a servant from us”. He told the enthusiastic gathering. “When you realise that we have failed you in our duties, report us to be removed from here.” He told the gathering

The Deputy Head of Consular and welfare at the Mission, Mr. Edward Coffie expressed concern about the use of middlemen by some Ghanaians in acquiring visa and passports. He said, to eliminate these unscrupulous people from the operations of the mission, the visa and passport section of the mission will only process applications submitted by applicants themselves. The chairman of the Ghana Union, UK Mr. Kwame Adu called on all Ghanaians residing in the UK to desist from fronting for foreigners in the acquisition of Ghanaian passports. He said such unpatriotic practices would eventually render the Ghanaian passport valueless.