Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately remove Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, accusing him of reckless diplomacy that has plunged the country into an international crisis with severe economic consequences.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament yesterday, the Minority’s Foreign Affairs Committee, through the MP for Bosome-Freho and Deputy Ranking Member, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, said Ghana’s inclusion on a United States list of 75 countries facing an indefinite pause in immigrant visa processing was a direct result of what it described as the Minister’s “immature, confrontational and diplomatically illiterate conduct.”
The Minority noted that on January 13, 2026, the US Department of State announced the visa pause, a decision which it said would have devastating implications for thousands of Ghanaian families and professionals seeking lawful permanent residence in the United States.
According to the Minority, the development undermines family reunification efforts and disrupts the plans of skilled workers who had complied fully with US immigration requirements.
Beyond the social impact, the Minority warned of grave economic consequences. It said Ghana receives between $3.7 billion and $6.6 billion annually in diaspora remittances, with the United States accounting for the largest share, estimated at between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion each year.
The caucus argued that freezing immigrant visa processing threatens this vital economic lifeline, warning that today’s visa restrictions could translate into tomorrow’s decline in remittances, worsening the hardship of families and communities across the country.
The Minority laid the blame squarely at the feet of Mr. Ablakwa, accusing him of choosing “megaphone diplomacy” over quiet, professional engagement.
It cited what it called a pattern of public confrontation with key partners, including the United States and Israel, rather than the use of established diplomatic channels to resolve technical issues around migration, deportations and consular cooperation.
As evidence, the caucus pointed to the December 2025 incident involving the deportation of Ghanaians from Israel, after which the Foreign Minister ordered the immediate deportation of Israeli nationals from Accra and publicly announced a policy of reciprocal deportations.
The Minority described this as “petulant showmanship” that violated basic diplomatic norms and portrayed Ghana as unpredictable and untrustworthy.
It further accused the Minister of failing to anticipate the policy direction of the current US administration, despite previous instances where visa sanctions had been used against Ghana.
According to the Minority, a competent foreign minister should have engaged in early-warning analysis, scenario planning and quiet negotiations to prevent the country’s inclusion on the list.
The caucus also criticised what it called a failure to leverage Ghana’s strong relations with the European Union to lobby Washington, arguing that recent foreign policy posturing had alienated key allies and made coordinated support impossible.
In addition to calling for Mr. Ablakwa’s removal, the Minority demanded immediate public accountability from the Foreign Ministry, including full disclosure of communications with the United States over the past 18 months and a clear strategy for securing Ghana’s removal from the visa list.
It also called for the establishment of a high-level technical working group with US authorities, the withdrawal of the “tit-for-tat” deportation policy with Israel, and the appointment of a special envoy to handle diaspora and migration affairs.
The Minority further urged President Mahama to recall Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, accusing him of neglecting urgent diplomatic engagement while engaging in partisan domestic controversies.
“This is not a partisan matter; it is a matter of national survival,” Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh said, insisting that Ghana’s international reputation, economic stability and the welfare of its citizens were at stake. “The Foreign Minister must go, and he must go now.”
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House