Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, the Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho, has leveled serious accusations against Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Ayeh claims that Ablakwa sacrificed Ghana’s chance to lead the ECOWAS Commission in what he terms a “predetermined” arrangement for President John Mahama to assume the African Union (AU) Chairmanship in 2027.
In a recent press statement, Ayeh, who is also the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, alleged that Ablakwa “ceded Ghana’s right to occupy the position of the Presidency of the ECOWAS Commission” in exchange for a supposed unanimous endorsement from West African leaders for Mahama’s candidacy as the sole AU Chairperson for 2027.
Ayeh pointed out that Ghana did not need to negotiate any deals to secure the AU Chairmanship, stating that the process was already established during former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s tenure.
He asserted that the arrangement for President Mahama to become the next AU Chairperson was determined as early as 2024 when Ghana was elected to the Bureau of the Assembly of the AU.
According to him, Ghana’s progression through the AU’s rotational system saw it move from 3rd Vice Chairperson in 2024 to 2nd Vice Chairperson in 2025, ultimately reaching 1st Vice Chairperson during the February 2026 Summit.
“It is therefore automatic that in 2027, Ghana will ascend from 1st Vice Chairperson to Chairperson of the AU,” Ayeh stated.
Concluding his statements, Ayeh criticized the Foreign Affairs Minister’s actions as a significant diplomatic blunder, emphasizing, “But for the Minister’s lack of understanding of the institutional processes of ECOWAS and the AU, Ghana would have secured both positions.”
