The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ghana, William Hanna, has called on state institutions to stop begging for money from foreign donors, especially now that our new President is intent on building a Ghana ‘beyond aid’.

Mr Hanna’s comments came in response to comments passed by the Comptroller General of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Kwame Asuah Takyi, during the presentation of vehicles and IT equipment to the Service as a EU donation.

Asuah Takyi, after receiving the items, had said:

“The GIS is very grateful for the continuous support we receive from the European Union and its member countries, but like Oliver Twist, we shall be grateful for more, particularly in the development of our border infrastructure and systems,”

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But the ambassador responded that such an attitude is unfortunate.

“One comment of my own about the reference to Dickens and Oliver Twist is just a little problem of mine: I’m thinking that in a country where the president is talking of [going] beyond aid, we should, maybe, move away from the Oliver Twist reference and have a reference [of] Great Expectations – another book by Dickens.” Hanna said.

He added that emphasis has to be on more job creation, which would curb the issue of migration.