The pathway to Canada — for study, work, or permanent residence — is one of the most sought-after and most complex immigration journeys in the world. Marie Keita Amarteifio has spent over two decades navigating its every contour, first from inside the system and now as the entrepreneur who helps others find their way through it. As CEO and Founder of Askia Immigration Consulting Services, she is the first Ghanaian woman to establish a regulated Canadian immigration consulting firm in Ghana — a distinction that speaks to both her pioneer’s spirit and her deep institutional expertise.
Amarteifio’s authority in this space is not theoretical. Before founding Askia, she managed the Consular Section at the High Commission of Canada in Accra for eighteen years, providing services to Canadians in Ghana as well as in Togo, Sierra Leone, and Mali. That experience gave her something no textbook could: an intimate understanding of how immigration systems actually function, where applications succeed and fail, and what clients need that they often cannot articulate. When she left to build her own firm, she carried with her the credibility that only comes from having operated at the highest level of the system she now advises on.
As a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in good standing with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, Amarteifio provides the kind of personal, tailored immigration guidance that mass-market agencies cannot. She is also a proud member of BA-RCIC — Black Africanness RCIC — a professional network of certified Black immigration consultants, lawyers, and student advisors across Canada.
The Business
Askia Immigration Consulting Services offers comprehensive Canadian immigration services including applications for study permits, work permits, visitor visas, investment immigration, and citizenship. The firm’s competitive advantage is Amarteifio’s 18 years of consular experience paired with the personal, case-by-case approach she brings to every client. Unlike large agencies that process applications as volume, Askia treats each case as unique — because it is.
The firm serves both anglophone and francophone clients, with offices in Ghana and Mali. This bilingual capability, combined with Amarteifio’s deep understanding of West African contexts and Canadian requirements, positions Askia as the firm of choice for clients who need a consultant who truly understands both sides of the journey.
The Vision
Amarteifio is scaling Askia across West Africa, building a network of regulated immigration services that gives African professionals, students, and families access to expert guidance that was previously available only through expensive international firms. Her mission is clear: to ensure that the pathway to Canada is navigated with integrity, expertise, and the personal attention that every applicant deserves.
