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Cato urges
Ghanaians to understand UK immigration rules
Accra, April 28 Ghanadot/GNA – Ghana’s High Commissioner to
the United Kingdom, Mr Annan Cato, has asked Ghanaians to
understand the new immigration rules in the UK in order to
take appropriate measures to avoid embarrassment.
Speaking at a public forum in London on Sunday for Ghanaians
in the UK and Ireland, he cited the case of Ama Sumani, a
cancer patient who was deported to Ghana despite being
gravely ill and has since died.
Mr Cato said in his speech e-mailed to GNA by the Ghana High
Commission in London that, since December 2006, the UK Home
Office had adopted new immigration rules which made
acquisition of migrant status harder for foreign nationals,
lacking in requisite skills (as needed in the UK).
He said knowledge of the English language and the knowledge
of the laws, custom and practices of the host country was
required to be allowed into the country or to acquire legal
migrant status in the UK.
Mr Cato said the new immigration scheme known as the Highly
Skilled Migrant Programme was designed against the
background of perceived uncontrolled migration which had
brought about a huge influx of foreign nationals to the host
country, with attendant pressures on services and facilities
in the UK.
“The Highly Skilled Migrant Scheme is judged against a point
criteria designed to reflect the likelihood of the migrant’s
success in the UK labour market,” he said.
Mr Cato said the new system replaced the previous framework
which was based on applicant’s work experience,
exceptional/significant achievements, and also on what the
Home Office described as GP Priority Provision categories.
The new scheme focuses on age, academic qualifications,
previous earnings and bonus points for previous work/study
in the UK. It favours holders of MBA degrees from designated
institutions. These requirements are to be taken along side
other considerations in granting legal migrant or
residential status in the UK.
“The ability to speak English to a required level will
contribute greatly to the success of any application for
residence.
“Within the new scheme are rules relative to verification of
documents. The Home Office has the prerogative to specify
documents which applicants may be expected to provide and to
refuse to consider applications when such documents are not
provided.
“The Home office can likewise refuse applications where the
applicant has provided documents which are not genuine even
if they are not material to the application or to refuse
applications which cannot be verified.”
Mr Cato said under the UK Border Act 2007, foreigners were
to be issued with identity cards and register their
biometric data, such as facial image and fingerprints in
addition to other biographical information such as name,
date and place of birth and nationality.
“It is intended that this process would begin in late 2008
and increased systematically. It is envisaged that by
2009/2010, 10% of all foreign nationals would be issued the
identity cards rising to 90% of all foreign nationals by
2014/2015 according to Home Office estimates.”
Mr Cato said the 1992 Constitution had been amended to allow
Ghanaians to have more than one nationality, but the law
required that this was done according to the procedure set
out in the regulations.
On politics in Ghana, Mr Cato said the eyes of the whole
world will once again be on Ghana during the December
elections.
“Our major challenge is the coming national elections, but
we are confident that this will be another unqualified
success. Our national cohesiveness is improving and we are
slowly becoming a more confident nation, at peace with
itself, at peace with it neighbours, and punching above its
weight in an increasingly competitive global environment.
“How we undertake this exercise will be a measure of our
increasing maturity as a nation of laws, and of
institutions, seeking to justify our reputation as the
African success story,” he said.
Mr Cato said under the leadership of President John Agykekum
Kufuor, respect for the country had tremendously increased.
“We are a haven of peace in a turbulent neighbourhood, and
we have even become peacemakers with the help of our
magnificent armed forces and police.
“The number of international conferences that have taken
place and are currently taking place bear testimony to this.
The number of foreign visitors to Ghana has increased
considerably.”
GNA
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