Closure & Reopening Of Ghana's US Embassy Is A Shame! … Says Jinapor

Samuel Abu Jinapor, MP for Damongo, is the Ranking Member of the Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee. The Caucus has criticized the closure and quick reopening of Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. They called it a “needless embarrassment” that harms Ghana’s diplomatic reputation.

Jinapor issued a statement on May 29, 2025. He condemned the announcement made by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on Facebook. He described the move as diplomatically inappropriate and procedurally flawed.

“The closure and reopening of our Embassy is an embarrassment,” Jinapor stated. He said it was a rushed action that damaged Ghana's reputation.

The embassy closed on May 26, 2025, due to allegations of misconduct involving some staff members. However, the Minority argued that announcing this via Facebook undermined diplomatic norms.

“Declaring a foreign mission ‘closed’ on Facebook offends international standards,” Jinapor emphasized. He noted that this risks damaging Ghana’s credibility globally.

The Embassy reopened just three days later. This raised questions about the decision-making process behind the initial closure. The Minority believes this quick reversal shows poor planning.

“This indicates that the decision was not well thought out,” Jinapor said. He stressed that sensitive national matters require careful management and respect for processes.

While he supports investigating wrongdoing at the Embassy, he warned against actions that harm Ghana’s Foreign Service image. “We must avoid actions that bring disrepute to our country,” he added.

The Minority also expressed concern over suspending local staff and dissolving the IT department at the Embassy. They believe these measures unfairly affect dedicated officers alongside those implicated in wrongdoing.

“The sweeping nature of these measures casts doubt on our Foreign Service's integrity,” they stated.

Additionally, they raised alarms about plans to cross-post all Foreign Service officers after two years at their posts. They argue this could lead to significant financial costs for Ghana.

“These changes could cost millions in repatriation and relocation expenses,” Jinapor warned.

He described this situation as avoidable and urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to restore integrity within its ranks quickly.

“Ghana has become a target of jokes in diplomatic circles,” he said, urging immediate corrective action from the Ministry.

Jinapor reaffirmed his commitment to defending national interests and maintaining Ghana's dignity internationally. “We will hold government accountable for its foreign policies,” he concluded.