COVID-19 Restrictions have Delayed Evacuation of Deportees from USA – Foreign Affairs Minister
The sector Minister said evacuations have been stalled until borders are reopened
Jonas Danquah 
The Foreign Affairs Ministry says processes to facilitate the deportation of Ghanaians from US have stalled due to imposition of travel restricitions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the issuance of Emergency Travel Certificates to facilitate these evacuations have been deferred until borders are re-opened.
She made these remarks on the floor of Parliament today [July 22, 2020] in response to a question from Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member for North Tongu.
AYORKOR BOTCHWAY IN PARLIAMENT
Madam Ayorkor Botchway indicated that before coronavirus, 125 deportees were safely evacuated from the USA as part of arrangements that led to the lifting of the visa ban imposed on Ghana in 2019.
However, 22 people are currently going through interviews, awaiting deportation when Covid-19 travel restrictions are lifted in pursuit of the agreement.
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“Currently, interviews for persons cited for deportation are ongoing as agreed between the two sides,” she said.
“However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the issuance of Emergency Travel Certificates to facilitate their removal have been deferred until borders are re-opened,” according to the Minister.
She added that “it should be noted that both sides put in place modalities intended to facilitate and ensure that a procedure was followed in the identification and issuance of the appropriate travel documents in accordance with Ghana’s obligations under international protocols.”
The Foreign Minister further pledged her outfit together with the US embassy are following all the international protocols to evacuate the remaining deportees.
“It is important to state that whenever there was a need for specific intervention on humanitarian ground, be it, health or family, it was done by engaging the relevant US authority.”
