Ghanaian missions are not charging citizens abroad for collecting their data to help in executive decision making back at home.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Charles Owiredu said reports that members of the diaspora community are being charged by Embassies and High Commissions are untrue.

Speaking to JoyNews’ News Desk programme on Wednesday, Mr Owiredu said the data is simply to guide government’s decisions with pressure being mounted for Ghanaians to be evacuated.

The Minority in Parliament, led by their spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Okudzeto Ablakwa has been calling for an evacuation since January 31.

Rapper, Sarkodie who is also stuck in the US as well as Ghanaian students in Wuhan, China have all called on government to bring them home.

Sarkodie said in a tweet that the president should open the borders temporarily to allow those who want to come to do so.

Other nationals who can afford to come by themselves have also spoken to the media, championing opening of the borders.

The government was initially adamant but is now considering the move.

The data being collected by the missions is, therefore, to aid government in knowing the number of people stranded and who want to return home.

This would help in the decision-making process, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told journalists at a press conference on Tuesday.

He, however, stressed that it is not directly linked to evacuating persons as that decision has not been taken.