Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has given a categorical assurance that the Mahama administration would never turn its back on distressed people at home or abroad, stressing that "no Ghanaian in distress anywhere in the world will be ignored."
Reporting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs performance report in the Government Accountability Series, Ablakwa underscored the government's commitment to people-driven foreign policy, transparency, and humanitarian accountability.
"It is a privilege and obligation that I hold in great esteem to submit this report to the Ghanaian people," he declared. "This reflects President Mahama's vision to embed transparency, accountability, and participatory governance in all spheres of public service."
The Minister revealed that since taking office in February 2025, two substantive reform committees have been set up: one to overhaul the passport system and the other to address the affairs of Ghanaians abroad.
These moves, he further stated, were part of his radical vision of diplomacy "anchored on tangible outcomes."
Ablakwa reflected on his recent visit to Côte d'Ivoire, where he assessed personally the status of displaced Ghanaians amidst violent conflicts on Ghana's borders.
According to him, around 8,000 citizens have been repatriated safely, primarily from Côte d'Ivoire, and 5,309 remain in Côte d'Ivoire. On behalf of President Mahama, he distributed 6 million CFA to meet pressing humanitarian needs and secure repatriation.
"In times of crisis, we have to show not just leadership, but compassion," he noted. "Our diplomacy is not just about treaties and policy; it is about human beings and their dignity."
The Minister also highlighted the swift action by the ministry in evacuating 17 Ghanaians from the conflict between Iran and Israel, saying Ghana's Tehran embassy will reopen on September 16, 2025, with enhanced security measures for staff.
Besides crisis management, Ablakwa also placed emphasis on a new era of educational diplomacy, stating 1,000 ECOWAS students would receive scholarships to study in Ghana and Ghanaian international students would receive 1,500 scholarships purchased in 15 partner countries.
"From October 1, all such scholarships purchased by the ministry will be placed in the public domain for transparency and accessibility," he added.
On Ghana's controversial welcoming a handful of West African nationals returned from the United States, the Minister again asserted that the move was informed by humanitarian reasons and not by transactional gain.
"This must be interpreted as an act of un-African compassion, not a gesture of support for the immigration policy of the United States," he clarified. "Ghana has and will not receive any money for this act.".
He concluded his statements by calling for African solidarity: "As my colleague foreign ministers reminded me, Ghana has always been a haven to refugees from Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Niger, and many more.
It is our turn now to stand up to the defense of our brothers and sisters in need. Long live African solidarity."
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