The Majority in Parliament has described as “misguided” demands by the Minority for the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
On Tuesday, January 20, the Minority led by Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament, held a press conference, attributing the recent immigrant visa freeze by the US as the direct result of the “reckless diplomacy” by the Foreign Affairs Minister.
“This visa freeze is not just a bureaucratic issue,” he told the press.
“It directly affects families who have waited years to reunite, and professionals whose careers depend on lawful migration. Our citizens are now paying the price for reckless diplomacy.
“The Foreign Minister has chosen theatre over strategy. Public confrontations and social media rebuttals cannot replace careful engagement with our most important allies. Ghana has been humiliated on the global stage because of this approach.”
But in a counter-press conference on Wednesday, January 21, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije pledged full backing for the sector minister.
“The statement is misguided to make those conclusions. We are here to say that we support the Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa, in his work. All Ghanaians have seen his work.”
The Ablekuma South Member of Parliament insisted that all the matters raised by the Minority do not in any way affect the work of the Minister.
He said Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa is not immune to criticism and so, when needed, they will offer constructive criticism but to call for his resignation “is a disservice to our country Ghana”.
“We stand behind him and we support him.”