The Netherlands Embassy in Accra has denied Visa to the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tamale North constituency Alhassan S. Suhuyini, because it fears the lawmaker, will not return after his trip to that country.
Among reasons given is that “Your intention to leave the territory of the member state before the expiry of the visa could not be established with sufficient certainty. There is insufficient evidence that you have significant social and/or economic ties to your country of origin or country of habitual residence. As a result, your prompt return following the conclusion of your intended stay cannot be assured. In this connection, it should be noted that one of the basic criteria for the issue of visa is the prevention of illegal migration. In determining whether there is a risk of illegal migration, immigration authorities examine the local and general situation in an applicant’s country of origin or country of habitual residence and an applicant’s specific personal situation”.
But the MP suspects there is more to the reasons given than what has been provided by the European country.
It follows reports in the media this week that some MP who are signatories to the Proper Ghanaian Sexual and Family Values bill popularly known as anti-LGBTQI+ bill, have been denied visas to some countries.
The MP on several media platforms this week admitted he has indeed been denied visa but said he has no basis to link it to the bill.
But in a sudden u-tun, Suhuyini has issued a rejoinder on social media, detailing documents showing excuses for bouncing.
Below are the documents and his post on facebook…
Rejoinder: Suhuyini reveals recent visa denial, refuses to link it to LGBTQ+
I have seen news publications suggesting that I was denied a Visa by an unnamed Embassy due to my association with the PROMOTION OF PROPER HUMAN SEXUAL RIGHTS AND GHANAIAN FAMILY VALUES BILL, 2021.
Since I received correspondence that communicated the decision of the said Embassy, I have been inundated by calls from well meaning Ghanaian reporters and activists who without doubt believed that this very offensive decision of the Embassy is related to the Bill seven (7) of my colleagues and I are promoting.
I consider myself deeply reflective and fair minded, so I restrained myself and all those who tried to convince me that the reasons for my denial of the Visa was either than what the correspondence from the embassy communicated. I assumed at the time that the Protocol Officer, who at the time of processing my application was also dealing with other equally important domestic issues, may have faulted in the documents presented.
I therefore have since taken steps to appraise every document or information and have since appealed the Embassy’s decision.
However all the information I now have convince me that the Protocol Officer submitted all appropriate documents.
Therefore for the Netherlands Embassy to ignore my;
1] status as Member of Parliament of Ghana with responsibility to an entire Constituency, which was known to them.
2] valid travel visas to the UK and USA and my numerous previous travel record where I have never overstayed.
3] beautiful family and deny me an entry visa on the basis that ; there was insufficient evidence that I have significant social or economic ties to my country to prompt my return after my intended visit, could only have been deliberately taken to provoke me and also undermine Ghanaian state officials and diplomats.
After the determination of my appeal I will make a formal complaint to our country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deal with this gross disrespect.
Anyone with the slightest knowledge of me know that as a young person, even when I lived in conditions that justified migration abroad and migration was popular, I was never attracted to it, I’m a proud Ghanaian who believe in contributing to making our country attractive too to foreigners. How lame, If the penalty for supporting the PROMOTION OF PROPER HUMAN SEXUAL RIGHTS AND GHANAIAN FAMILY VALUES BILL, 2021 is the denial of an entry-visa into the Netherlands.
Source: newdawngh.com