17 October 2008

Ghana musician denied visa for Canada

Francis Kofi Akotuah, a renowned musician from Ghana, which delayed his cultural tour of Canada with drummer Larry Graves, reports Joyonline.

The Canada Council for the Arts granted Mr Graves, who is drummer for the band Mr. Something Something, $3,000 for the tour with Mr Akotuah.  Mr Graves has remained confident the tour will go ahead despite Mr Akotuah being denied a Canadian visa, and at the most be delayed a week. 

Canadian Immigration and Citizenship (CIC) has not granted Mr Akotuah's visa on the grounds they are not reassured he will leave Canada when his visa expires.

A spokesman for CIC, Madona Mokbel, has said the department is unable to make a comment regarding the musician's visa.

"Due to privacy legislation, it would be inappropriate to comment on any individual or specific case without the authorization of the individual," Mr Mokbel said.  "Canada's immigration legislation serves to protect the health, safety, and security of Canadians."

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Article by Jessica Bird, Canadian Visa Bureau.