Our attention has been drawn to an article posted on Ghanaweb on Wednesday, 17 November 2010 by Nana Yaw Sarpong, Communications Officer of NPP UK and Ireland, on the alleged sale of visa application forms at a grocery shop, BOOKSBY newsagent.

The High Commission appreciates Nana Sarpong’s concerns but wishes to set the following records straight:

• In the first quarter of 2009, the Mission uploaded its visa application forms on the Mission’s website.
• This was to enable applicants print for free, complete and only submit completed forms to the visa section for processing.
• In spite of the fact that the visa forms were on line, the Mission continued to print hard copies, which it gave out for free to applicants who arrived at the visa section without forms.
• This continued till July 2009 when the printing and distribution of visa application forms at the visa section free of charge ceased. The general public was advised of this cut off date through various sensitization publications.
• The practice afterwards, has been for visa applicants to visit the Mission’s website, download, fill out and submit completed application forms to the Visa section for processing.
• There have, however, been instances where applicants have arrived at the visa section and requested visa application forms.
• Such applicants have been politely directed by Mission staff to the Mission’s website where the forms can be down loaded for free.
• BOOKBY Newsagent is a grocery shop with internet facilities and applicants have often gone there to request for internet services to enable them download the forms.
• Our checks at BOOKSBY Newsagent following the publication of your article revealed, that whereas initially the proprietor downloaded and printed the forms FREE of charge for prospective applicants, they soon realised that the request was increasing and so they could not sustain the free service.
• BOOKSBY Newsagent, therefore, decided to charge applicants for the service. The charges they said include internet user charges and printing charges.
• Our checks at BOOKSBY also confirmed that his operations have nothing to do with the MISSION. He operates an internet and business centre and charges for the use of his services.
• The Mission has NEVER printed nor distributed visa forms after the July, 2009 deadline. We would like to state categorically that BOOKSBY Newsagents are a private entity and not consultants of the Consular Section.

Whilst the High Commission appreciates the concern shown by Ghanaian citizens on any alleged malpractices at the visa section, the Mission urges citizens with such concerns to first of all cross check their facts at the High Commission before publication.

The Ghana High Commission ceases this opportunity to remind all visa applicants that they can download visa application forms free of charge from the High Commission’s website at: www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com

Source:
Information Section
Ghana High Commission
London