The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said that the decision to hand diplomatic passports to five figures in Ghana’s creative space was taken purely on merit after consultations with the Ministry of Tourism.
He noted that the recipients neither applied for nor lobbied for the honour, saying the move was a national gesture of gratitude for their roles in carrying Ghana’s image across the globe.
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Speaking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 1, 2025, during the official presentation of the passports, and captured by Ghana Weekend, Ablakwa said that the initiative was meant to honour individuals who have consistently brought pride to the country.
“None of our distinguished Ghanaians here who have been honoured to receive these diplomatic passports applied for it. They did not lobby for it. They did not initiate the process. This is entirely a country that says that it is time to honour our heroes and that these people are deserving. And it was done very objectively, meeting as management, consulting our colleagues at the Tourism Ministry,” he said.
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The minister explained that the decision was also practical, noting that many Ghanaian creatives struggle with travel restrictions when invited abroad for international events.
He recalled an instance in which a Ghanaian group billed to perform in Barbados nearly missed the opportunity due to visa complications.
“There was a group recently that had to perform in Barbados; very, very big appointment they had to really project our country. But they needed to get to Barbados, they needed a transit visa, either with the Americans or the British, and they couldn’t get a date.
“And it was really difficult for them. If they had a diplomatic passport, they could go through Europe, because, for example, with a diplomatic passport, you don’t need a visa to get to Germany. And then from Germany, you can connect to the Caribbean,” he added.
The five creatives selected for this recognition represent different branches of Ghana’s cultural and creative expression: travel vlogger Wode Maya, Grammy-nominated reggae artiste Rocky Dawuni, broadcaster Anita Erskine, visual artist Ibrahim Mahama, and entrepreneur Dentaa Amoateng MBE.
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