The Minority in Parliament has called on President John Dramani Mahama to relieve Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa of his duties as Minister of Foreign Affairs, accusing him of repeated diplomatic missteps that they say have damaged Ghana’s international reputation.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, said the Minority’s position was not driven by partisan considerations but by what he described as clear and compelling evidence of poor leadership at the Foreign Ministry.
According to him, Ablakwa has demonstrated a lack of temperament, judgement and competence to effectively manage Ghana’s foreign relations.
“This is not about political hyperbole, we are making a sober, evidence-based case that the current foreign minister has failed to meet the standards expected of the office”, he stated.
He urged Ghanaians to reflect on the country’s diplomatic history, pointing to past foreign ministers who, he said, served with distinction and clarity of vision.
He mentioned Alex Quaison-Sackey, Kwame Nkrumah, Victor Owusu, Obed Asamoah, James Victor Gbeho, Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Mohammed Mumuni, Hanna Tetteh, and Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.
According to the Minority, these former officeholders strengthened Ghana’s global standing not through grandstanding, but through strong character, strategic thinking, steady temperament, and professional discipline.
“They understood that Ghana’s influence is earned through reliability, not theatrics, and that sovereignty is defended through strategic patience rather than impulsive gestures,” Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh said.
He argued that the current foreign affairs minister has fallen “catastrophically short” of these standards, warning that continued missteps could further erode Ghana’s credibility on the international stage.
The Ranking Member also recalled concerns raised during Ablakwa’s parliamentary vetting, describing his conduct at the time as belligerent and hot-headed.
He said the Minority had warned at the time that such traits could pose challenges to the management of Ghana’s diplomatic affairs, but those concerns were dismissed as mere political opposition.
The Minority has therefore appealed to President Mahama to act in the national interest by relieving Ablakwa of his position and appointing a replacement capable of restoring professionalism and stability to Ghana’s foreign policy direction.
The Minority’s criticism follows a major shift in United States immigration policy that has heightened public concern about Ghana’s diplomatic standing.
In January 2026, the US State Department announced an indefinite pause on immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Ghana, effective January 21, 2026.
Minority accuses government of selective justice, payment delays
The decision, according to US authorities, is based on concerns that applicants from the affected countries are more likely to become dependent on public benefits and that existing screening procedures require further review.
The policy affects immigrant visas, which grant permanent residency in the United States, but does not apply to B1/B2 visas issued for business or tourism purposes.
US Visa Pause: Minority accuses Ablakwa of damaging Ghana-US relations
The Minority argues that Ghana’s inclusion on the list reflects a failure of diplomatic engagement and advocacy at the highest levels, contending that a more proactive and measured foreign policy approach could have mitigated the impact of the decision or secured exemptions for Ghana.
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‘He has demonstrated that he lacks the competence for the office he holds.’
— Nana Asafo-Adjei, Deputy Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, describes Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as unfit for office, commenting on Ghana-US bilateral relations pic.twitter.com/JQRhT6EJD7
— ChannelOne TV (@Channel1TVGHA) January 20, 2026
JKB/EB
Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians respond to Ofori-Atta’s detention
