Samuel A. Jinapor
The Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo, Samuel A. Jinapor, has called on the nation to uphold the core values of Ghana’s foreign policy amidst shifting global political and economic dynamics.
Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament, Mr. Jinapor underscored the critical need for Ghana to safeguard its national interest, promote good neighbourliness, and maintain non-alignment, especially in the face of recent geopolitical tensions and trade disputes.
“Mr. Speaker, in times like this, we must, as a country, rise to defend the core values of our foreign policy to secure the well-being of our citizens and protect the territorial integrity of our country,” he emphasised.
He traced the evolution of Ghana’s foreign policy from the era of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, whose Pan-Africanist vision positioned Ghana as a leader in regional integration, to present-day diplomacy that increasingly prioritises economic development and global cooperation.
According to Mr. Jinapor, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and recent policy shifts by the United States – including mass deportations and trade protectionism – have had direct implications on Ghana’s foreign relations and economic stability.
He lamented the suspension of foreign aid programmes such as the USAID international funding, which has compelled the nation to revise its financing strategies.
Mr. Jinapor further noted that despite global pressures, Ghana must not compromise its principles in the pursuit of external support. “We cannot, as a country, sacrifice our goals and aspirations for economic assistance,” he cautioned.
On regional developments, he highlighted the growing security and diplomatic concerns posed by the military takeovers in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, and their subsequent withdrawal from ECOWAS.
He stressed the importance of maintaining open dialogue and promoting democratic transitions in these neighbouring countries, while continuing to uphold Ghana’s commitment to the principles of the African Union and ECOWAS.
The Damongo MP called for Ghana to take a bold stance on key global issues, including speaking out against the atrocities in the Israel-Palestine war, the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, and the mistreatment of foreign nationals, especially Africans, in other jurisdictions.
“Mr. Speaker, we must rise up and speak against the inhumane treatment of foreign nationals by other nations, including the mass deportations currently taking place in the United States,” he asserted.
MP Jinapor also pointed to the need for climate justice, criticising powerful nations that have historically contributed to climate change but are now reneging on their financial commitments to support developing countries in tackling the crisis.
He paid tribute to Ghana’s past Foreign Ministers for their invaluable contributions to the country’s foreign policy, and congratulated the newly appointed Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, encouraging him to lift Ghana’s flag high on the global stage.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House