Minority calls for Ablakwa’s removal over “reckless diplomacy”

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called for the immediate removal of Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, accusing him of incompetence, poor judgment, and what it describes as reckless diplomatic conduct that has allegedly undermined Ghana’s international standing and exposed citizens abroad to hardship.

At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, said recent diplomatic strains involving the United States, Israel, and key European partners point to serious failures at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to him, Ghana is paying the price for what he described as public confrontation and political theatrics rather than professional and discreet diplomacy.

The Minority outlined three main grounds for its demand.

First, it accused the Foreign Minister of abandoning negotiation for confrontation, particularly through public threats of reciprocal deportations and the handling of sensitive bilateral matters in the media. The group argued that such actions violate basic diplomatic norms and risk turning ordinary travellers into bargaining tools instead of protecting them through established consular processes.

“Let me be brutally honest about what this represents. It is not strength, it is petulance. It is not sovereignty, it is showmanship. It is not diplomacy. It is the diplomatic equivalent of street-ground behaviour and gross incompetence. Ghana has every right under international law to protect the dignity of its citizens abroad, but sovereignty is best defended not by theatrical justice, but by measured, strategic responses that achieve real results. The minister mistook justified anger for justified action, and Ghanaians are now paying the price,” he stated.

The Minority warned that such public posturing projects unpredictability to foreign governments and weakens Ghana’s ability to secure cooperation on migration and consular matters.

Secondly, the group criticised the Foreign Minister’s handling of relations with the United States and Europe, particularly on migration, visa processing, and diplomatic coordination. They noted that Ghana, once regarded as a stable and strategic partner by the European Union, is now facing increased scrutiny and visa-related restrictions.

“Barely six months ago, Ghana was being celebrated as a serious and stable partner. Today, we are being treated as a migration risk. That decline did not happen by accident. It reflects a failure of strategy and execution. A competent diplomatic approach would have mobilised our allies in London, Paris, Berlin, and Brussels to advocate for Ghana. Instead, at the very moment we needed goodwill, the minister made it politically impossible for our partners to defend us,” the Minority said.

They further accused the Foreign Minister of taking unilateral public positions on sensitive global issues without consulting Ghana’s allies, arguing that such actions have isolated the country and eroded decades of diplomatic trust.

Thirdly, the Minority demanded accountability and a change in leadership at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, insisting that Ghana can no longer afford what it described as reckless stewardship of its foreign policy.

“This is not a partisan matter. It is a matter of national survival. The Foreign Minister has demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that he lacks the temperament, judgment, and competence required for this office. His actions have made Ghana less safe, less respected, and more vulnerable on the international stage. We therefore call on the President to remove him immediately and appoint a professional diplomat who values results over rhetoric,” the statement added.

The Minority announced plans to file formal questions in Parliament when the House resumes, seeking full disclosure of communications with U.S. authorities on migration and visa matters, an assessment of the economic impact of recent visa restrictions, and a clear strategy for restoring Ghana’s diplomatic standing.

They also called on civil society organisations, professional bodies, and members of the Ghanaian diaspora to support the demand, warning that continued inaction could further damage the country’s reputation and worsen conditions for citizens living abroad.

By: Bawa Musah

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