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Diasporia News of Saturday, 2 September 2006

Source: Nana Kodjo Jehu-Appiah, GNA Special Correspondent, Bangkok

Veep interacts with Ghanaian community in Thailand

Bangkok, Sept. 1, GNA - A number of Ghanaians residing in Thailand, on Friday expressed dissatisfaction about the ease at which foreigners were acquiring Ghanaian passports to commit crimes to tarnish the image of the country.

At a meeting with visiting Vice President Aliu Mahama, in Bangkok, they were unanimous in their conviction that most African nationals were acquiring the travelling document at an alarming rate. One Akwasi Poku alleged that he had led the crusade against the fictitious acquisition of the passports for the past 13 years without receiving the needed cooperation from the Ghanaian authorities. The residents also complained about corruption and bureaucracy at Ghana's entry points, the slow pace of processing travelling documents in Ghanaian missions and the negative stories the media churn out about people in authority and the country, especially on the INTERNET. Mr Frank Heyman, a Journalist, said the Ghanaian media was taking advantage of the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law to malign the hard won reputation of people.

Vice president Alhaji Mahama said although the Government was feeling the heat of the smear campaign by a section of the media, Ghana was still committed to a liberal press in fulfilment of the ruling New Patriotic Party's manifesto. In reaction to a question, he said Government had given assent to the Representation of the People Amendment Act, to enable Ghanaians abroad to vote.

Vice President Alhaji Mahama said what was left was for the Electoral Commission to put in place the needed structures to implement the Law.

He said the Government had also initiated moves to facilitate the repatriation of Ghanaian prisoners abroad to serve their various sentences at home.

Vice President Alhaji Mahama said Ghanaians in the Diaspora must complement the development drive of the Government by investing at home. They must also take advantage of the 50th anniversary celebration of the country, next year to visit home.

Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and NEPAD, asked them to report anybody they found dealing in Ghanaian passports illegally to the law enforcement agencies. He said Ghana had put in place the process of issuing new passports through an electronic device to eliminate fraud.

Mr Moses Ziblim, Chairman of the Ghanaian community in Thailand, cautioned the Government to screen foreigners who entered Ghana in order to apprehend the bad nuts. He said Ghanaians must not be blinded by the proverbial "Ghanaian hospitality to allow dubious characters to enter the country. 1 Sept.06