General News of Friday, 16 August 2019

Source: 3news.com

Ghana mission in UK denies neglecting ‘stranded’ visually impaired Ghanaian

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The Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom has denied ‘neglecting’ a visually impaired Ghanaian citizen who needed the Commission’s assistance to return home.

This was after a video of the said Ghanaian; Ruth Akua Aguure, went viral on social media.

The video insinuated that the Commission had neglected her when she wanted help from them.

In a statement released by the Commission, they stated that the message out there is false and that the woman was attended to and assisted to get back home to Ghana.

“Mission would like to indicate its displeasure with the content of the said video, as there are factual inaccuracies in same.

“In any case, the Mission is pleased to inform our esteemed compatriots that through the Mission’s facilitation the matter has been resolved, and Madam Aguure arrived safely in Ghana last Sunday the 11th of August, 2019.”

The Commission explained that Madam Aguure, who traveled to the UK on board an Air Maroc flight to raise funds for a building project for the Wa Methodist School for the Blind, was scheduled to return to Ghana on the 25th of August 2019.

She is said to have arrived to the UK without sufficient funds for her upkeep, no shelter and nothing to live on whilst her return ticket was non-amendable and non-refundable, hence her difficulty in getting back to Ghana.

Following her contact to the Commission, Ghana’s High Commissioner, Papa Owusu Ankomah, had a meeting with her in his office to have the issue resolved.

The Commission assured of its commitment towards protecting the interest of Ghanaians abroad and charged all Ghanaians traveling outside the country to ensure they have adequate funds to cater for their stay.

“The Ghana High Commission wishes to seize this opportunity to advise Ghanaians travelling to the UK to make adequate provision for their sustenance and upkeep.

“Additionally, the Mission wishes to reiterate its commitment to collaborating with all well-meaning Ghanaian community groups and institutions to uplift the image of our dear country.”