Minority demands Ablakwa's dismissal over ‘reckless diplomacy’

The Minority Caucus in Parliament, through its Foreign Affairs Committee, has called for the immediate removal of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, over “reckless diplomacy” that has endangered the country’s international standing, economic stability and the welfare of Ghanaians abroad.

Addressing the press yesterday at Parliament, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, described the recent U.S. decision to pause immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, including Ghana, as “a matter of grave national importance” and “a humiliation” directly linked to the Foreign Minister’s conduct.

Visa freeze?

He highlighted the human and economic impact of the freeze, noting that “families separated… husbands and wives who have waited years through lawful channels to reunite” were now facing indefinite delays. He added that healthcare workers, engineers, IT professionals and teachers who followed all legal procedures were “told that Washington no longer trusts Ghana enough to process their immigrant visa applications”.

Economically, the Minority warned, billions of dollars in annual remittances were at risk. “Over the past few years, Ghanaians in the diaspora have remitted between $3.7 billion and $6.6 billion annually… The United States accounts for the single largest share… between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion per year,” the statement said, emphasising that the visa freeze “chokes an economic lifeline” vital for families and the national economy.

Reckless diplomacy

The Minority Caucus blamed Mr. Ablakwa for the development, stating that the current crisis “bears the fingerprints of one man: Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa”. It cited a pattern of “reckless, immature, and diplomatically illiterate conduct” that allegedly dates back to his tenure as an opposition MP, including the controversial “Operation Recover All Loot” (ORAL) campaign that the statement described as compiling “gossip, rumours, and unsubstantiated information”.

The Caucus also mentioned a series of diplomatic failures under Mr. Ablakwa’s tenure. In the United States, for instance, the Minority said, the Minister reportedly chose public confrontation over quiet negotiation, issuing sharp rebuttals that antagonised American authorities instead of deploying technical teams to resolve migration and visa issues.

It also criticised the Minister’s handling of a December 2025 incident in Israel, where three Israeli nationals were deported from Accra. It described the action as “the diplomatic equivalent of a street brawl” and an example of “crass incompetence.” Additionally, the Caucus pointed out that Europe, previously a strong ally, was sidelined after the Minister publicly endorsed President Trump’s Gaza proposal without consulting key European partners, a move it called “reckless independence.”

Demands

In response to these perceived failures, the Minority Caucus issued three key demands. First, it called for immediate public accountability, urging the Foreign Ministry to fully disclose communications with the United States, provide the reasons for Ghana’s inclusion on the visa freeze list, and outline strategies to secure the country’s removal.

Second, it demanded the restoration of professional diplomatic practice, including the establishment of a technical working group with the United States, the cessation of tit-for-tat deportations with Israel and the appointment of a special envoy to manage diaspora and migration affairs.

Third, the Caucus called for leadership change, insisting that the Foreign

Minister “has outlived his usefulness”. It, therefore, urged President John Mahama to appoint a diplomat of proven experience and steady judgment who prioritises Ghana’s long-term interests over public spectacle.

The Minority Caucus also criticised Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, for focusing on partisan political disputes instead of safeguarding Ghana’s interests in Washington.

The Caucus further cautioned that Ghana could not afford to treat foreign policy as performance art. It argued that the Minister’s actions had made the country “less safe, less respected, and more vulnerable on the international stage,” and delivered a stark warning that “the Foreign Minister must go. And he must go now. Before he shipwrecks this nation any further.”