Josiah
The Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Kwame Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, has sharply criticized Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for what he describes as a premature and potentially damaging announcement regarding the temporary closure of Ghana’s embassy in Washington, D.C.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Ayeh expressed deep concern over the manner in which the closure and ongoing investigations into alleged corruption at the embassy were publicly disclosed—particularly through social media platforms.
“Investigations are still ongoing, so why announce it publicly on social media? That’s our concern,” he stated.
He warned that such public declarations—especially coming directly from the Foreign Minister—could tarnish Ghana’s international image and undermine the credibility of its diplomatic missions.
“This kind of premature communication has serious implications. Have we considered the cost of this so-called temporary closure to the nation? Have we thought about the diplomatic consequences?” he queried.
Mr. Ayeh also criticized the framing of the situation, arguing that describing the embassy as a hub of fraud could erode trust among international stakeholders.
“If Ghana’s own Foreign Minister declares one of our embassies fraudulent, do you think partners like the U.S. government will feel confident engaging with us through that mission? This is precisely why we believe the Minister’s approach was fundamentally flawed,” he added.
He clarified that the Minority is not opposed to disciplinary actions or sanctions against individuals found culpable. However, he stressed that the decision to shut down an entire diplomatic mission—and the manner in which it was communicated—was hasty, potentially damaging, and should have been handled with greater discretion and institutional protocol.
