Gyakye Quayson Pushes for Refundable Visa Fees to Protect Ghanaian Applicants

By Joylinda Laryea / July 27, 2025

Deputy Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson, has called for sweeping reforms in the visa fee policies of foreign embassies operating in Ghana, describing them as exploitative and a heavy financial burden on travellers, particularly the youth.

The Assin North legislator made the call during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee, where he lamented the non-refundable nature of visa fees charged by many Western countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and parts of Europe.

Exorbitant Fees, Little Recourse for Applicants

According to Mr. Quayson, visa fees which can cost upwards of $160 (approximately GH₵2,500) are equivalent to one or two months’ wages for many young Ghanaians seeking opportunities abroad. He described as unfair the fact that applicants often pay these significant sums yet are denied visas without any form of reimbursement.

 “These embassies are collecting these monies and denying almost 90% to 95% of them. We have to find a way to streamline this to save our youth the money,” he told the committee.

He further alleged that visa fees have become a major source of revenue for foreign missions in Ghana and across Africa, helping sustain their operations at the expense of hopeful travellers.

Promise of Diplomatic Engagements

To tackle the issue, the Deputy Minister-designate pledged to collaborate closely with his Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to initiate diplomatic discussions with foreign governments aimed at reforming these policies.

“We will find a way to put an end to that, and I will work with my minister to make sure that any policy we put together will be in the interest of Ghanaians,” Mr. Quayson stressed. “Foreign policy is not about protecting foreign nations only — it must also serve the needs of our citizens.”

A Long-Standing Debate

The debate over non-refundable visa fees has been ongoing for years in Ghana and across Africa. Applicants for U.S. visas, for example, pay $185 (non-immigrant) or $325 (immigrant) application fees, which are forfeited if the visa is denied — a common occurrence due to strict eligibility criteria. Similar practices are seen at British, Canadian, and Schengen embassies.

Critics argue that such policies exploit African travellers, many of whom are economically disadvantaged yet are compelled to apply multiple times in hopes of approval. Civil society groups have previously urged African governments to engage diplomatically to seek fairer policies, including partial refunds for rejected applications or fee waivers for low-income applicants.

On the other hand, foreign embassies often defend the fees, citing administrative costs involved in processing applications, regardless of approval or rejection.

Calls for Regional Action

Analysts suggest that Ghana could work with other African Union (AU) member states to push for collective reforms, noting that isolated national efforts may have limited impact on global visa frameworks.

With Hon. Quayson’s pledge, expectations are high among Ghanaians that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may initiate bilateral or multilateral negotiations aimed at easing the financial burden on prospective travellers particularly students, workers, and families seeking reunification abroad.