Ayorkor Botchwey: I Haven’t Contradicted Bawumia On Use Of Ghana Card As Travel Document
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has dispelled media reports that her submissions on the use of the Ghana Card by diaspora Ghanaian contradict statements made by the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on the same.
In February 2022, Bawumia announced the Ghana Card can now be used to travel to any country within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region. He also said that with the Ghana card, Ghanaians from any airport and any Diaspora Ghanaians will not require a visa to travel to Ghana.
But the response of Ayorkor Botchwey to Parliament in June was that the Ghana Card is “an optional travel document to be used in tandem with our biometric passport”.
“At the moment, the Ghana Card cannot be used for travelling to other countries, either within or outside of ECOWAS”, she said.
In relation to the use of the Ghana card by diaspora Ghanaians, the Ministry said she has never contradicted the vice president.
“This position is consistent with that of the vice president on the subject. This point is also consistent with the Hon. Foreign Minister’s remarks in her response to Parliamentary questions last month, June, which facts are available in Parliamentary records”.
The Ministry’s reaction was to a recent publication by Ghana web on the subject headlining that Ayorkor Botchwey has contradicted Bawumia again premising on Ayorkor Botchwey’s delivery during the installation of the E-Visa system.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry explained that the Minister’s address to journalists at the Site Acceptance Test (SAT) for the Implementation of New E-Visa system on July 19 did not focus on the Ghana Card but on the E-Visa.
“The address of the Foreign Minister should be placed in the right perspective, as it was not focused on the Ghana Card but on e-visa which was being rolled out for non-Ghanaian nationals who apply for visas in Ghana’s Mission abroad to come to Ghana”
“The Minister in her subsequent engagement with the media confirmed what the vice President said; that Ghanaians living abroad can enter Ghana with Ghana Card at all points of entry of Ghana”.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
