NPP Minority Demands Removal of Foreign Minister Over ‘Reckless Diplomacy’

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate removal of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, accusing him of reckless diplomacy that it says has gravely damaged Ghana’s international standing and put billions of dollars in diaspora remittances at risk.
Addressing an emergency press conference in Parliament on Tuesday,  January 20, 2026, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho, Nana Asafo-Agyei, said the Minority was alarmed by Ghana’s inclusion on a United States list of 75 countries affected by an indefinite pause in immigrant visa processing.
According to him, the development represents not only a diplomatic humiliation but a direct economic threat to Ghanaian families who depend on remittances from relatives abroad, particularly from the United States.
“The national interest demands change. The welfare of millions of Ghanaians demands it. Ghana’s reputation in the world demands it,” Mr Asafo-Agyei said, adding that the Minority had lost confidence in the Foreign Minister’s judgment, temperament and competence.
Visa pause and economic implications
The Minority traced its concerns to a January 13, 2026 announcement by the U.S. Department of State on the suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of selected countries, including Ghana. While government communicators have insisted that non-immigrant visas are unaffected, the Minority argued that Ghana’s inclusion on the list raises serious questions about the state of bilateral relations with Washington.
Mr Asafo-Agyei noted that Ghana receives between $3.7 billion and $6.6 billion annually in remittances from its diaspora, with the United States accounting for the largest share—estimated at between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion each year.
“When you freeze immigrant visa processing, you do not merely delay dreams; you choke an economic lifeline,” he said, warning that prolonged restrictions could lead to a decline in remittance inflows and increased hardship for households across the country.
Allegations of diplomatic mismanagement
The Minority laid the blame squarely at the feet of the Foreign Minister, accusing him of adopting what it described as “megaphone diplomacy” instead of quiet, professional engagement with key partners.
According to the Minority, longstanding technical issues between Ghana and the United States—such as deportation cooperation, documentation of nationals abroad and commercial disputes—should have been handled through sustained diplomatic channels. Instead, it alleged that the Minister chose public confrontation, failed to anticipate policy shifts in Washington and exposed Ghana to punitive measures.
The press conference also revisited Ghana’s diplomatic row with Israel in December 2025, following the deportation and detention of some Ghanaian nationals and parliamentarians at Ben Gurion Airport. While describing the incident as unacceptable, the Minority criticised the government’s response, particularly the decision to deport Israeli nationals from Accra as “reciprocal action,” arguing that it violated established diplomatic norms and escalated tensions unnecessarily.
Europe and alliance management
The Minority further argued that Ghana’s recent foreign policy posture had undermined its ability to mobilise allies, particularly in Europe, to intervene on its behalf with the United States. It said that despite being described by the European Union as a strategic partner only months earlier, Ghana now finds itself subject to enhanced migration scrutiny in Washington.
“This is not a fall in Ghana’s stature; it is a failure of strategy and execution,” Mr Asafo-Agyei said, accusing the Foreign Minister of sidelining allies and prioritising domestic political applause over coordinated international action.
Minority’s demands
The NPP Minority outlined a series of demands directed at the Mahama administration. These include a comprehensive public briefing by the Foreign Ministry within seven days on Ghana–U.S. communications on migration and visa issues, the reasons for Ghana’s inclusion on the U.S. list, the strategy to secure removal from it, and an assessment of the potential economic impact.
It also called for the restoration of what it termed “professional diplomatic practice,” including the establishment of a high-level technical working group with the United States, the withdrawal of any public policy of tit-for-tat deportations with Israel, and the appointment of a special envoy on diaspora and migration affairs.
Most significantly, the Minority formally called on President John Dramani Mahama to remove Mr Ablakwa from office and appoint a “competent diplomat of proven experience and steady judgment” to lead the Foreign Ministry.
Call for recall of U.S. ambassador
In a further escalation, the Minority criticised Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, accusing him of failing to proactively engage U.S. authorities over the visa issue and instead becoming embroiled in domestic political controversies.
President Mahama, the Minority said, should immediately recall the ambassador as part of broader efforts to restore Ghana’s diplomatic credibility.
Government yet to respond
As at the time of filing this report, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration had not issued an official response to the Minority’s allegations and demands. Government officials have previously maintained that Ghana continues to engage its partners diplomatically and that the visa situation with the United States is being addressed through appropriate channels.
The Minority, however, insists that unless decisive action is taken, Ghana risks further erosion of its international reputation and economic stability.