Ablakwa Questions Embassy Efficiency, Vows to Prioritize Ghanaian Citizens Abroad
Accra, Ghana – Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration nominee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has raised concerns over the effectiveness of Ghana’s embassies, questioning their relevance if they fail to adequately support Ghanaian citizens abroad.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Friday, January 31, Mr. Ablakwa emphasized the need for embassies to play a more active role in protecting and assisting Ghanaians overseas.
“Why do we establish embassies if we cannot use them to help our own people? It is unacceptable that Ghanaians in distress struggle to get the necessary support from our missions,” he remarked.
He cited delays in consular services, inadequate support for distressed citizens, and inefficiencies in embassy operations as key concerns that need urgent attention.
The nominee stressed that embassies must function beyond diplomatic representation, serving as centers of refuge and assistance for Ghanaians abroad. He called for proactive engagement by embassy officials in providing legal aid, emergency support, and facilitating economic opportunities for citizens.
“We must ensure that our foreign missions are properly resourced and committed to serving Ghanaians effectively,” he stated.
Ablakwa assured the committee that, if approved as Minister for Foreign Affairs, he would prioritize strengthening Ghana’s embassies to be more responsive and citizen-centered.
“Our embassies must not merely exist as symbolic institutions. They must function as true extensions of the Ghanaian government, ready to serve and protect our people wherever they are,” he concluded.
