The Minority Caucus in Parliament has issued a strong call for the immediate dismissal of Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, accusing him of incompetence, reckless diplomacy, and failure to safeguard Ghana’s international standing.
The call was made at a press conference held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, delivered and led by Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh.
According to the Minority, recent developments in Ghana’s diplomatic relations, particularly with the United States, have exposed deep flaws in the leadership and management of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The caucus argues that the situation has reached a critical point and requires urgent corrective action in the national interest.
At the heart of the Minority’s concerns is Ghana’s reported inclusion on a 75-country list by the United States, allegedly linked to migration, deportation, and visa-related issues. As its first demand, the Minority called for immediate public accountability from the Foreign Affairs Ministry. It insisted that within seven days, the ministry must hold a comprehensive press conference to explain all official communications between Ghana and the United States over the past 18 months.
They specifically demanded clarity on “all communications between Ghana and the United States regarding migration, cooperation, deportation issues, and visa processing,” as well as the “specific reasons given by Washington for including Ghana on their 75-country list.” The Minority further called for a clear strategy outlining how Ghana intends to secure its removal from the list, alongside a full economic impact assessment of any visa restrictions, including projected losses in remittances.
The caucus warned that it would pursue parliamentary accountability, stating, “We intend to file a question to compel the government to answer for these when Parliament resumes.”
Beyond transparency, the Minority also demanded a restoration of what it described as professional diplomatic practice. It called on the government to immediately establish a high-level technical working group with U.S. authorities to resolve outstanding issues related to migration documentation and consular cooperation. The Minority further urged the withdrawal of what it termed a “public policy of threats” relating to deportation arrangements with Israel, and a return to normal consular relations grounded in established international practice.
In addition, the caucus proposed the appointment of a special envoy for diaspora and migration affairs, reporting directly to the President, to handle these sensitive matters with what it described as the seriousness they deserve.
However, the strongest language of the press conference was reserved for the Foreign Minister himself. In a direct appeal to President John Dramani Mahama, the Minority declared that leadership change at the Foreign Affairs Ministry was unavoidable. “The national interest demands change. The welfare of millions of Ghanaians demands it. Ghana’s reputation in the world demands it,” the statement said.
The Minority accused Hon. Ablakwa of prioritising public applause over diplomatic results, arguing that his conduct has weakened Ghana’s position internationally. “The foreign minister has outplayed his usefulness,” the caucus asserted, adding that he “lacks the temperament to manage complex bilateral relations” and has consistently chosen “rhetoric over results.”
Most damningly, the Minority claimed that his approach to diplomacy has made Ghana “less safe, less respected, and more vulnerable on the international stage.”
Concluding its address, the caucus formally called on the President to “remove Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa from the foreign minister’s portfolio immediately and appoint in his place a competent diplomat with proven experience, steady judgement, and a genuine commitment to Ghana’s long-term interests over personal political theatre.”
The Minority also appealed to civil society organisations, professional bodies, diaspora groups, and the general public to support the call, stressing that the issue transcends partisan politics. “This is not a partisan matter,” the statement emphasised. “It is a matter of national survival.”
