Jarsey made the statement during an appearance on the July 29 edition of “Ok Morning Rush” on Liberia’s OK FM, which was also streamed live on Facebook.

He alleged that the Russian Embassy in Ghana had a policy of refunding visa fees to unsuccessful applicants, citing compassion for “poor African people.”

His remarks gained significant traction on social media, with the video amassing over 66,000 views, 1,600 comments, and 772 likes as of August 13, 2024.

However, a fact-checking investigation by DUBAWA, a leading platform for combating misinformation in Africa, has revealed that the claim is incorrect.

DUBAWA’s investigation included a thorough review of the Russian Embassy’s official website in Ghana, where it was clearly stated that visa fees are non-refundable.

According to the embassy’s policy outlined on their consular services page, visa fees are charged for the processing of documents and are not subject to reimbursement, regardless of the visa application outcome.

Further searches by DUBAWA found no credible evidence to support the AASU President’s assertion that the embassy refunds fees to denied visa applicants.

The investigation concluded that the claim is false and misleading.

The Russian Embassy in Ghana has also reaffirmed its stance, emphasizing that visa fees are collected solely for the processing of applications and are not returned if a visa is denied.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information from credible sources to prevent the spread of misinformation.

In a statement on its official page on X, formerly Twitter, the Embassy said it has no contact with the possible sponsors of the group.

It also rejected claims of being involved in the sharing of Russian flags, shirts, and placards among the protestors.

“It must be emphasised that the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Ghana, as well as the other government agencies, have no connections to the above mentioned unauthorised gathering.

Moreover, upon receipt in August of information about a public action being plotted, the Embassy immediately appealed to Ghana Police and warned about the possible organisation of the rally with the use of the national symbols of the Russian Federation,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Embassy has expressed confidence that the security agencies will take the necessary measures to identify the perpetrators, adding that the law will eventually take its course.

The Western Regional Police Command on Tuesday started prosecuting three young men arrested in Diabene, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, over suspicion of having ties to Russia’s Wagner mercenary group.

The arrest follows a public durbar organised by the youth, who were seen wearing and showing the flags of Wagner and Russia and mobilised about 20 youth.

The suspects have been identified as Evans, 25, Michael Asiedu, 23, and Ernest Asiedu, 26.

Read the full statement below:

ATTENTION❗️❗️❗️ pic.twitter.com/HbMmA5YZc6

— Russian Embassy in Ghana (@RusEmbGhanaEng) September 20, 2023

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