Ghana-UK third-country asylum non-existent; we’re not interested – Foreign Minister
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has denied reports that the Republic of Ghana has signed a partnership agreement with the United Kingdom on third-country asylum, as part of a cooperation deal between the two countries on security and migration.
A statement issued by the ministry said categorically that “Ghana has no interest or intention to consider any proposed partnership on third-country asylum”.
Sky News in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, 8 September 2021 put out a news item on the content of a virtual meeting between Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, at the request of the British.
The news story by Lisa Holland, Sky News’ communities correspondent, relied on a Twitter handle post, which mentioned a supposed partnership between the UK and Ghana on third-country asylum, as part of a cooperation deal between the two countries on security and migration.
The statement from Ghana’s foreign ministry revealed that even though the Ghana High Commission in London explained to the journalist that her insistence on proceeding on the basis of a tweet, which did not capture the essence of the discussion, would amount to misrepresentation, Sky News proceeded with the story.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration wishes to clarify that at no point in the discussion was a partnership on third-country asylum addressed”.
“As part of the discussions between the UK Minister and Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, the UK Minister informed Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister that the UK would be submitting a draft proposal for a partnership in the areas of security and migration”.
“So far, no such proposal has been shared with the Ghana side,” the statement said.worldremit
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