Ghana: No Such Thing as a Free Meal - Case of Aunty Akosua
French Ambassador Anne Sophie-Avé, Aka Akosua, Steps Out of Diplomatic Norms
Ambassador Anne Sophie-Avé, the French Ambassador to Ghana, isn't your average diplomat who sticks to the confines of diplomatic circles. She's all about immersing herself in Ghanaian culture, mingling with market vendors, fishermen, palm wine tappers, farmers, and musicians. So, when she took to Twitter to express her desire to meet Kuami Eugene, those in the know realized she was courting trouble.
In a tweet accompanied by a video, Ambassador Akosua, casually holding her phone and reading out her tweet, said:
"Remember when Chance the Rapper complained about not having Sarkodie yet? Will it work for me too? I've done everything in Ghana except meet @KuamiEugene"
Months later, a user named Papa Yaw offered help, but with a request: @papayawkhalix19 If I bring him will I get a free visa to France?
Whether Papa Yaw followed through on his promise or not remains unknown, but Ambassador Akosua did end up meeting the Angela hitmaker. Overwhelmed by the encounter, she shared photos and videos, including dance lessons from the artist, on her social media accounts.
"Can you guess how I'd feel if I met one of my favorite artists, celebrated his 25th birthday, received a beautiful gift, learned the dance moves of his new song Fire Fire, and got an early sneak peek of the music video? It was an incredible moment! @kuamieugene is an extraordinary personality as well as an incredible artist, he's an inspiration for the Youth. #GhanaToTheWorld."
Ambassador Akosua enjoys the laid-back nature of Twitter, even if it brings a bit of trouble. After all, it was through this platform that she had reached out to Kuami Eugene. So, it came as no surprise that she chose to update her followers on her meeting with the artist.
What she didn't anticipate, however, was the influx of visa requests that followed her tweet. To her, a handful of inquiries might have been manageable. But the sheer volume of requests was overwhelming. Speaking to Joy Prime, Ambassador Akosua appealed for people to stop badgering her with visa-related questions on social media.
"There's no need to call me; there's no need to harass me on social media. I cannot issue a visa. The decision is made by the French Immigration."
Ambassador Akosua went on to explain that visa applications are handled remotely once approved, with her team simply printing and attaching the visas to passports. But those who bombarded her with requests were unconvinced. They wanted visas, and as a French Ambassador, they believed she had the power to make that happen.
In Ghana, nothing comes for free. Yet, it seems the French Embassy team in Ghana may not have fully grasped this local sentiment, leading to the confusion surrounding visa requests. Regardless, it's worth noting that all visa requests at the French Embassy in Ghana follow standard procedures and are not subject to special treatment for public figures or ambassadors.
BackgroundThe French Embassy in Ghana processes visa applications through a digital pre-submission process, followed by an initial screening, appointment confirmation, biometric verification, and consular contact. There is no evidence suggesting that public figures or ambassadors receive expedited processing or special attention regarding visa requests.
[1] Demarches Simplifiées - French government’s visa application portal.[2] French Embassy in Ghana - Contact information.
- The influx of visa requests that followed Ambassador Akosua's meeting with Kuami Eugene on social media was overwhelming, causing her to appeal for people to stop badgering her with such questions.
- Social media platforms like Twitter played a crucial role in Ambassador Akosua's outreach to celebrities like Kuami Eugene, but they also fueled the anticipation and subsequent flood of visa requests from youth excited about social-media-driven entertainment.
- While Ambassador Akosua's encounter with Kuami Eugene and the subsequent video and photos shared on social media generated excitement among the youth, it also highlighted the misunderstanding regarding visa applications at the French Embassy in Ghana, with some believing that public figures or ambassadors might receive special treatment.
