By Ruth Serwaa Asare
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has given a firm assurance that the Mahama administration will never turn its back on citizens in times of crisis, stressing that “no Ghanaian in distress anywhere in the world will be ignored.”
Presenting the performance report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Government Accountability Series, Ablakwa underscored the government’s commitment to people-centered diplomacy, transparency, and humanitarian responsibility. “It is both an honour and a responsibility I hold in high esteem to present this report to the people of Ghana,” he said. “This reflects President Mahama’s vision to embed transparency, accountability, and participatory governance into every fibre of public service.”
The Minister revealed that since assuming office in February 2025, two major reform committees have been inaugurated: one to overhaul the passport system and another to address the welfare of Ghanaians abroad. These steps, he said, were part of his transformative vision of diplomacy “anchored on tangible outcomes.”
Ablakwa recounted his recent mission to Côte d’Ivoire, where he personally assessed the situation of displaced Ghanaians following violent clashes near Ghana’s borders. According to him, about 8,000 citizens have safely returned home, while 5,309 remain in Côte d’Ivoire. On behalf of President Mahama, he presented 6 million CFA to support urgent humanitarian needs and safe repatriation. “In moments of crisis, we must not only show leadership but also compassion,” he noted. “Our diplomacy is not just about policies and treaties; it is about people and their dignity.”
The Minister further highlighted the ministry’s swift intervention in evacuating 17 Ghanaians from the conflict between Iran and Israel, announcing that Ghana’s embassy in Tehran will reopen on September 16, 2025, with enhanced safety measures for staff.
Beyond crisis management, Ablakwa emphasized a new chapter in educational diplomacy, revealing that 1,000 ECOWAS students will be offered scholarships to study in Ghana, while Ghanaian students abroad will benefit from 1,500 scholarships secured from 15 partner countries. “From October 1, all scholarships secured by the ministry will be published online to promote transparency and accessibility,” he added.
On Ghana’s controversial acceptance of a small number of West African nationals deported from the United States, the Minister insisted that the decision was guided by humanitarian values rather than transactional gains. “This must be understood as an act of un-African empathy, not an endorsement of U.S. immigration policies. Ghana has not and will not receive any financial compensation for this gesture,” he clarified.
He concluded with a call for African solidarity: “As I was reminded by my colleague foreign ministers, Ghana has always provided a safe haven to refugees from Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Niger, and many others. It is now our turn to stand up for our brothers and sisters in distress. Long live African solidarity.”
