Shutting Washington D.C. Embassy damages international reputation – Asafo-Adjei

Nana Kwame Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. He disagreed with the minister's announcement about closing Ghana’s embassy in Washington, D.C. This closure comes while investigations into a major corruption scandal are still ongoing.

In a media interview, Ayeh raised concerns about how this information was shared. He specifically mentioned the use of social media for such an important announcement. “Investigations are ongoing. So why do you write on social media?” he asked.

Ayeh warned that this public declaration could harm Ghana’s reputation abroad. He questioned the potential costs of this temporary closure to the country and its diplomatic consequences.

He argued that calling the embassy a hub of fraud could shake international confidence. “Do you think stakeholders like the U.S. government would be comfortable dealing with an embassy declared fraudulent by Ghana’s own minister?” he said.

Ayeh emphasized that the Minority does not oppose sanctions against wrongdoers. However, they are concerned about shutting down the entire diplomatic mission and how it was communicated to the public.