The attention of the Ghana High Commission has been drawn to a video making the rounds on social media, which seeks to create the impression that, a visually impaired Ghanaian national, Madam Ruth Aguure, was turned away when she sought the Mission’s assistance.

Mission would like to indicate its displeasure with the contents of the said video, as there are factual inaccuracies in same. In any case, the Mission is pleased to inform our esteemed compatriots that through the Mission’s facilitation the matter has been resolved, and Madam Aguure arrived safely in Ghana last Sunday the 11th of August 2019. However, it is necessary to give a brief background to the incident.

On the evening of Wednesday the 7th of August 2019, the Ghana High Commission received an email from one Reverend Ben Twumasi, of the Barnet and Queensbury circuit of the Methodist church with responsibility for Edgware and Queensbury Methodist churches, requesting assistance for a visually impaired Ghanaian national by name Madam Ruth Aguure, who turned up at the Croydon Methodist church for support.

Per the email, Madam Aguure, who claimed to have travelled to the UK on board an Air Maroc flight to raise funds for a building project for the Wa Methodist School for the Blind, was scheduled to return to Ghana on the 25th of August 2019. It was further understood that, Madam Aguure arrived in the UK without sufficient funds for her upkeep, no shelter and nothing to live on whilst her return ticket was non-amendable and non-refundable.

Following the receipt of the email on even date, Reverend Twumasi was assured that Mission considered the matter to be of prime concern and that the necessary steps would be taken to have it resolved, particularly as matters of this nature needed to be referred to capital for necessary directives. To the surprise of the Mission, the said video was brought to its attention on the morning of the 8th of August 2019, purportedly emanating from the offices of Gye Nyame Foundation, a Ghanaian-led charity organization based in South London. The Mission wishes to state that the video was put up by the Foundation without seeking the High Commission’s perspective on the matter, even though the Foundation was aware that Reverend Twumasi was in contact with the Mission on the issue.

Notwithstanding the above, on the 9th of August 2019, the High Commissioner, His Excellency Papa Owusu Ankomah, had a meeting with Madam Aguure in his office, in the presence of some senior members of the Mission and officials of Gye Nyame Foundation, to have the issue resolved. At the meeting, Mission got to know that Madam Aguure had no written authorisation either from the Wa Methodist School for the Blind, Ghana Education Service or the Methodist Church-Ghana to raise funds for the said school. Furthermore, there was no official notification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana to the Mission regarding the purpose for which she was visiting the UK.

The High Commissioner further explained that, Mission had no budgetary allocation whatsoever for the upkeep of Ghanaians in such situations and therefore needed to seek advice from capital as to steps to take in resolving the matter. Consequently, the requisite advice was obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana and the matter was resolved amicably.

The Ghana High Commission wishes to seize this opportunity to advise Ghanaians travelling to the UK to make adequate provision for their sustenance and upkeep. Additionally, the Mission wishes to reiterate its commitment to collaborating with all well-meaning Ghanaian community groups and institutions to uplift the image of our dear country.

GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA!

GOD BLESS ALL GHANAIANS RESIDENT IN THE UK AND THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND!

FROM THE INFORMATION SECTION,

GHANA HIGH COMMISSION, LONDON, UK

13TH AUGUST 2019