Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh
The Deputy Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, has alleged that he was deliberately prevented from travelling to the United States to participate in a United Nations conference because of his outspoken criticism of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In an exclusive interview with DAILY GUIDE, Mr. Asafo-Adjei recounted how his officially sanctioned trip was disrupted at Kotoka International Airport, despite being nominated by the Minority and cleared by the Ministry for the journey.
He explained that the Ranking Member of the Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, unable to attend the programme, had delegated him to represent the Minority.
“For about a month now, my Ranking had made it clear to both Parliament and the Minister that he could not attend. So the Minority delegated me, as Deputy Ranking, to represent him,” he said.
According to him, on September 18, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested his passport biodata for ticketing.
That same day, Mr. Asafo-Adjei Ayeh said he received an electronic ticket, adding that at the time, he was in Côte d’Ivoire on a Minority assignment investigating the condition of Ghanaian refugees.
He narrated that he returned to Ghana the following day, September 19, 2025, and prepared to depart for the conference on September 20, 2025.
However, the Deputy Ranking Member asserted that matters took a dramatic turn at the airport when he was turned away with an explanation that his ticket had been withdrawn by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
According to Mr. Asafo-Adjei, he was accompanied by the Committee Chairman, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije and the Committee Clerk.
“The clerk checked in successfully. When it got to my turn, the process delayed. Then Hon. Vanderpuije was directed to another counter and was cleared. Later, the lady at the desk told me, ‘Honourable, your ticket has been withdrawn’,” he narrated.
He said efforts to resolve the matter proved unsuccessful, pointing out that the Ministry, acting on instructions from the Minister, barred him from the trip.
“The clerk showed us a text message from the Minister instructing that only the clerk and Hon. Vanderpuije should be taken care of. As for me, I could not. So I returned the documents and left quietly,” he recounted.
The lawmaker believes the move was deliberate, linking it to his frequent disagreements with the Minister during committee proceedings and his comment on Ghanaian refugees in Côte d’Ivoire.
“It is obvious. The ticket was procured, my details were provided, and I had even just returned from Côte d’Ivoire on official Minority work. But suddenly, the ticket was withdrawn. This is not a coincidence,” he insisted.
Mr. Asafo-Adjei said the incident was not the first time tensions had flared between him and the Minister.
“Even in committee meetings, there have been heated confrontations. On one occasion, he questioned why I had addressed a press conference after asking questions in Parliament. Clearly, my criticisms of his leadership style are the reason behind this latest action,” he stated.
According to him, he has since reported the development to both the Minority leadership and the Committee.
“I have officially reported this to my leadership. When they return, we will take the appropriate steps and measures,” he said.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliamentary Correspondent