Many Ghanaians traveling outside of Africa keep their plans secret due to fears of superstition, jealousy, visa denial, shame, and physical attack. The chances of obtaining a visa to travel to Europe or America are extremely slim, often one in millions, making the fear of visa refusal a significant concern.

Recently, eight delegates—six children and two adults—from the Elfacares Foundation Organization were invited by Sports dans la Ville to participate in Festival24, a pre-Olympics event in Lyon and Paris. Our delegates will attend various activities and workshops designed to shape their futures and empower their communities. To top it all off, they will experience the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony!

Out of the eight delegates who went through the entire process—interviews, numerous briefings and preparations, visa applications, and pre-departure briefings—one person was denied a visa, despite having no concrete reason given. This denial will likely have a toll on her, especially given the lack of a clear explanation.

We have sent children from Ghana to the USA, UK, Egypt, Nigeria, and now France, but often, it might seem like we don’t know what we are doing because we have to be careful about how we handle the process.

In 2022, Afi, a junior golfer in our program, qualified to play in the World Junior Championship by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A). The R&A is a leading body within the world of golf and supports activities to ensure it is a thriving sport for all on a global scale. Unfortunately, she didn’t receive her visa in time to participate in the event and only got it after the event had ended. Had she gone, she would have been the first female golfer from Ghana to participate in the championship.

Many people in her local community attributed the visa delay to superstition, believing that when she won the Ghana Junior Open to qualify to represent Ghana, the announcement caused jealousy, and some individuals used voodoo to prevent her from getting the visa on time. The embassy explained the delay was due to an increased number of visa and asylum cases related to the Ukraine war. They advised us to apply for a priority visa in the future, which would ensure a decision within five business days.

Due to missing the tournament, Afi was ridiculed in her community by both adults and children, causing her to become depressed, but she eventually overcame these challenges with support and counseling.

The World Junior Championship is a bi-annual event, and in 2024, Afi qualified again to represent Ghana, poised to make history as the first female to do so. We applied for her visa on time and made it a priority application, expecting it within five business days. However, once again, there was an unexplained delay. As of now, the 2024 World Golf Junior Championship is over, and Afi still hasn’t received her visa. However, this time, she was mentally prepared for any outcome and had already traveled to Nigeria, Egypt, and the USA, overcoming intimidation and bullying.

When traveling abroad from Ghana, many people keep it secret, especially for children, for several reasons:

1. Superstition: Religion and superstition play a significant role in Ghana, including in travel plans. There are many stories of people being spiritually attacked, leading to visa refusals or significant delays, like Afi’s case. Some even fall ill or are sent back home upon arrival at their destination. Conversely, there are also instances where religious leaders pray for travelers, and their journey goes smoothly.
2. Jealousy: In communities where everyone is struggling, jealousy is common. When someone shares good news, they often face abuse and bullying. If a visa is denied, the ridicule intensifies, pushing some to their breaking point.
3. Visa Denial: Obtaining a visa to travel to Europe or America is as difficult as going to space for many in sub-Saharan Africa. The high poverty levels in these regions contribute to this difficulty. Many people do not return once they travel, making visa approvals even more stringent.
4. Physical Attack: Announcing travel plans can lead to physical harm. For children involved in sports, teammates might injure them intentionally. Adults can also face physical abuse.

Unfortunately, this secrecy is not required for foreigners or wealthy individuals in our community, who are celebrated and wished well when they announce their travel plans. The secrecy around our children’s travel affects our fundraising strategies and goals, making it seem like we are disorganized. In Ghana, most companies will not sponsor unless there is proof of a visa, and by the time we obtain it, it’s often too late.

Elfacares Foundation was established to empower underserved children to help curb or eradicate some of these issues in the future.

Thank you for reading!