us embassy---how can i get my good friend out of ghana? he has been there since the first of dec. please help

Question

I HAVE A GOOD FRIEND THAT IS FROM THE US AND IS IN GHANA BUT IS UNABLE TO GET HOME FOR SOME REASON I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THEY WON'T LET HIM LEAVE THE COUNTRY....HE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE THE FIRST OF DEC.. HE WENT THERE FOR EBC COMPUTERS. THEY HAVE NOT OFFERED TO SEE WHY HE HAS NOT RETURNED HOME. I WOULD APPERICATE ANY INFORMATION U COULD GIVE ME, TO SEE WHY THEY WON'T LET HIM LEAVE THE COUNTRY..ANY HELP WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPERICATED....THANK YOU

Answer 1

Any number of scenarios are possible, depending on the precise circumstances.

I suggest using the following contact information for the US Diplomatic Mission in Ghana - send a detailed e-mail and then follow-up with a phone call.

US CITIZEN SERVICES
6th and 10th Lanes, Osu Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
After Hours Emergency: (233) 21-775-297 Email: [e-mail]

Answer 2

This sounds like a very unusual situation.

Despite being very poor Ghana is a modern country in terms of it's political structure. It has a democratically elected and accountable government and much of it's structure is based on the British system (it was a British colony until 1957). It's political system, judiciary, military, police etc are much akin to American and European systems. It's not like some African countries where people disappear or are held against their will.

If your friend is unable to get out of the country there must be a very good and valid reason for this and the only real reason I can see for him being held against his will is that he's somehow been involved in criminal activity and has been caught by the authorities. Your friend obviously has a responsible job so I doubt he's the sort of person to do something like this. Ghana doesn't have any rules that he could inadvertently have fallen foul of. The only one that sometimes catches tourists out is the prohibition on wearing military style clothing (camoflage jackets etc) and even if he'd have been caught doing this it would have been dealt with there and then.

Are you sure that your friend is actually unable to leave the country? On the occasions I've been to Ghana I've been very reluctant to leave and would happily have stayed of my own free will had the opportunity presented itself. Could it just be that your friend has decided to stay longer than expected. Ghanaians are extremely friendly people and your friend would have no trouble finding hospitality and making many friends.

Has your friend phoned you at all. It's not at all difficult phoning from Ghana, many people have cell phones and there are reliable public phones everywhere you go.

Have you spoken to your friend's family, maybe they know why he has stayed longer than expected? Also try getting info from his employers, it was them that send him there so they should know the current situation.

Another possibility is to send your friend an e-mail. Working for a computer company he may have easy access to internet ready computers and even if he doesn't, there are many internet cafes in the towns and cities.

As to your point about how you can get your friend out... As an individual there's very little you can do. Your friend has to want to leave the country and if there is some sort of problem it's best handled through the proper channels.

The phone number for the US Embassy is 00233 21 775348.
The number for the US Consul is 00233 21 776601 or 776682.
The emergency number for both is 00233 21 775297.
The offices are open 07.30 to 17.00 (12.30 on Friday). Ghana is 5 hours ahead of EST.
US Embassy website... http://accra.usembassy.gov/

Ghana is a safe country and few tourists run into problems. It's the sort of country where ladies can walk alone at any time of day or night. The streets of London, New York or Paris are infinitely more dangerous so it's unlikely your friend has had some unfortunate encounter. If he's been taken ill or had an accident then the US Embassy or Consul should have been informed.

Hope this helps. I'm sure that whatever the reason for your friend's non return is a genuine one and there's nothing you need worry about.

Answer 3

Contact the US Embassy in Ghana or the US State Department. If your friend is in some kind of trouble in Ghana, they need to know anyway. The US Embassy can exert the kinds of pressure for information that a private citizen or corporation just can't bring to bear.