Accra: A fresh controversy is brewing over the National Democratic Congress government's planned rollout of a new electronic visa (E-Visa) system, with existing contractor TGN Digital Security Ghana Limited warning President John Dramani Mahama that proceeding with the initiative could expose the state to significant financial liabilities and potential judgment debts.
According to Ghana Web, the dispute centers on claims by TGN Digital Security (GH) Ltd and its Swiss partner, Orrell Fussli Security Printing Switzerland Ltd (OFS), that they already hold a valid 10-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with the Government of Ghana. This agreement covers the automation of visa processing services, including E-Visa capabilities at the foreign missions and the Kotoka International Airport.
The company argues that the proposed new E-Visa rollout duplicates systems and infrastructure already developed under an existing contract approved by the Cabinet, authorized by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), and ratified by Parliament. This latest standoff emerged after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced plans to launch a new E-Visa platform as part of Ghana's broader digital border management reforms.
However, TGN/OFS insists the government risks breaching binding contractual obligations if the new platform is implemented outside the framework of the current agreement. In a correspondence to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the company formally notified the government that the existing agreement signed on February 20, 2020, already covers necessary technology and infrastructure.
The company stated that the contract's initial support period spans from 2022 to 2027, with provisions for an automatic extension for another five years. TGN/OFS maintained that the agreement remains active and un-terminated, adding that no breach notices or termination procedures have been communicated by the government.
The company warned that introducing a 'parallel third-party system' without structured engagement could amount to 'material breach' and 'constructive repudiation' of the existing contract. According to the firm, core components of the E-Visa ecosystem have already been substantially completed and deployed.
TGN/OFS further stated that systems have been deployed across more than 40 Ghanaian diplomatic missions worldwide and at Accra's international airport. The firm also claimed significant investments in local capacity building and employment generation.
In a memorandum addressed to Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, the company urged the Presidency to intervene and encourage an inter-agency technical and contractual review before any rollout proceeds. The memorandum argued that bypassing existing contracts without due process could damage Ghana's international reputation for respecting long-term PPP agreements.
The memorandum also highlighted the standing of OFS as a Zurich-based digital security company. Beyond contractual concerns, allegations have surfaced regarding the awarding of the new E-Visa project, accusing officials of directing the contract to a company linked to businessman Francis Gavor.
No official response has been issued by the Presidency or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the allegations. The controversy comes amid the government's strategy to modernize border security and travel systems through the expansion of the Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Records (API-PNR) platform.
That directive has now become central to the ongoing dispute, with TGN/OFS insisting that any E-Visa implementation should be executed within the framework of the existing contractual arrangement. The company has expressed willingness to scale and enhance the current system through structured engagement with the government.