Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Foreign Affairs Minister-designate, has expressed misgivings about the manner Foreign Missions subject Ghanaians to inhumane treatment during visa acquisitions.
The nominee observed that there had been instances where noble and responsible Ghanaians who applied for visa at the various embassies or missions were left at the vagaries of unfriendly weather.
The Minister-designate expressed these sentiments when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Friday for vetting.
“I don’t like the way Foreign Missions treat our citizens during visa acquisition. It’s a major issue I’ll tackle and stand up for the rights of Ghanaians,” Mr Ablakwa assured.
The nominee said, when given the nod, he would advocate the establishment of a Presidential Travel Policy as a cost saving measure to avert profligate expenditure.
Responding to his activities with the Operation Recovery All Loots (ORAL), Mr Ablakwa said the ORAL’s operations had saved the nation 20 bungalows and that its reports would soon be handed over to President John Mahama for the next line of action.
The nominee expressed the optimism that the discoveries made by the ORAL would aid the Attorney-General’s Office to prosecute the suspects in the coming days.
The nominee said Ghana would use her economic diplomacy to address youth unemployment through regulated migration of Ghanaian artisans and professionals to work abroad.
To that end, Ghana would sign bilateral agreements with nations to export her artisans and professionals, including medical doctors, nurses, mid-wives, technicians and teachers to work outside and pay a token to the nation.
Responding to the President’s appointment of Lieutenant Colonel (rtd) Larry Gbevlo-Lartey as an Envoy to the Sahel State, the Minister-designate, said the appointment was a “strategic national interest” to maintain its diplomatic relations with its neighbours.
“Ghana’s foreign policy interest is to remain “friends of all and enemies of none,” the nominee emphasised.
Mr Ablakwa said he would advocate the establishment of a Consular Fund for the Foreign Service staff to support Ghanaians in the diaspora who may find themselves in distress, upon approval.
Ghana, he said, would also task her foreign ambassadors through clear key performance indicators to attract investors to the country.
GNA