The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa, has presented the Ministry’s performance report under the Government Accountability Series, reaffirming the Mahama administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and people-centred governance.
Speaking at the event, the Minister said the Ministry’s mandate, drawn from Chapter Six, Articles 40 and 73–75 of the 1992 Constitution, positions it as the lead institution in formulating, executing, and coordinating Ghana’s foreign policy.
The Ministry operates through 27 functional bureaux and specialised units at its Accra headquarters — including the Accra International Conference Centre, the Passport Office, the Foreign Service Institute, and Edu Lodge — as well as a network of 62 diplomatic missions and 10 consulates-general worldwide. It also oversees the All Africa Students Union, the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD), and the National African Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council.
Since assuming office on 7 February 2025, the Minister said his vision has been to make diplomacy “national interest-driven, people-centred, development-oriented, grounded in integrity, and anchored on tangible outcomes.”
Key Reforms On his first day in office, two major reform committees were inaugurated:
- Passport Reforms Committee — tasked with reviewing the passport application system to remove bottlenecks, improve efficiency, reduce processing times, and enhance document security.
- Committee on Migration and Welfare of Ghanaians Abroad — mandated to develop a framework for diaspora engagement, investment, welfare interventions during crises, and stronger institutional support for citizens overseas.
Humanitarian Response The Minister expressed government’s concern over recent clashes in Binyari, Savannah Region, which displaced thousands into Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. He recounted his recent three-day working visit to Côte d’Ivoire, where he met with Foreign Minister Kaku Huwaja Leon Adum and visited the Bounkani Region to assess the situation of displaced Ghanaians.
Out of 13,253 citizens who initially sought refuge in Côte d’Ivoire, about 8,000 have returned home, leaving 5,309 still across the border. On behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, the Minister donated 6 million CFA francs to support urgent humanitarian needs, in addition to relief items provided through NADMO.
In Burkina Faso, the number of Ghanaian refugees has reduced from 2,500 at the peak of the crisis to 1,455. The Burkinabè Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, expressed satisfaction with the rate of returns.
Commitment to Citizens Abroad The Minister assured that “no Ghanaian in distress anywhere in the world will be ignored” and pledged continued collaboration with Ghanaian, Ivorian, and Burkinabè authorities to ensure the welfare of displaced compatriots.
He also expressed gratitude to the governments and peoples of Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso for their hospitality, noting Ghana’s own history of offering refuge to citizens of neighbouring countries.
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