Avoid social media diplomacy – Minority tells Ablakwa

The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has made a request. They want Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to be more tactful. They also urge him to consult more while performing his duties.

Their concerns arose after the recent closure of Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. The Minister announced this via Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). This announcement came amid allegations of corruption at the Mission.

Ranking Member Samuel A. Jinapor led the criticism on May 27. He described the approach as a departure from Ghana’s tradition of quiet diplomacy. “We were shocked to learn about this decision through public announcements,” Jinapor said.

He emphasized that such significant actions should involve prior engagement with the committee. “A briefing should have preceded this decision,” he added.

The caucus believes accountability is important but must be handled discreetly. They aim to protect Ghana’s reputation and morale among foreign service officers. Jinapor noted that this approach affects both officers' morale and citizens abroad.

They clarified their concern is not about hiding wrongdoing. Instead, they want to avoid reducing diplomacy to “public spectacle or political posturing.”

The caucus also criticized issues with chip-embedded passports and processing timelines. They pointed out poor communication and lack of consultation in these matters.

“International relations require tact, quiet negotiation, and consistency,” Jinapor stated. He stressed that diplomacy is not for political point-scoring or hasty announcements.

He revealed that even some Majority MPs were unaware of the embassy closure beforehand, calling it alarming. The Minority urged the Minister to respect institutional processes and collaborate with Parliament more effectively.

“We believe greater engagement will enhance Ghana’s image,” Jinapor concluded. He expressed hope that the Minister would consider their concerns moving forward.

The Ministry has confirmed that the embassy in Washington, D.C., will reopen on May 29, 2025.