Visa fraud: I didn’t travel on diplomatic passport – Former MP

The former lawmaker for Asunafo South George Boakye has called on the UK High Commissioner to Ghana Jon Benjamin to reverse the UK visa ban placed on him or meet him court.

According to him, claims by the High Commissioner in the leaked letter to the Speaker of Parliament suggesting that he breached the terms of his visa while he traveled on a diplomatic passport is untrue.

In a letter addressed to the UK envoy, lawyers for the former MP also said their client cannot be blamed for his daughter’s decision to overstay her visit because she is an adult and must be held responsible for her actions.

“In respect of the period in question, my client traveled to the UK with a normal Ghanaian passport with passport number H1050729, and not a diplomatic passport. My client was granted two years UK visa from 14/9/12 to 14/9/14 with visa number 011164422.

“The purpose of the visit to the UK by the client and his 37-year-old daughter was a private one. My client returned as scheduled. His daughter, who is an adult failed to return as scheduled. My client cannot in any way be blamed because his adult daughter overstayed her Entry Permit into the UK.

“My client has not engaged in any form of visa fraud. All documents presented by the client were genuine, and he made the application directly to the UK Commission and not through any supposed third party. He has not abused the privileges and responsibility as a Diplomatic Passport Holder.

“We are expecting that based on the information we have provided, we expect your high office to reverse any travel ban imposed on my client and also come to the public domain to clear the issues.

Youth failure to do so will compel my client to use all legal means to appeal against any decision to impose a travel ban on him to the UK and also clear his name,” the letter said.