The Majority in Parliament has rejected calls by the Minority for the dismissal of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, describing the demand as unjustified and without merit.
On Tuesday, January 20, the Minority called for the immediate removal of the Foreign Affairs Minister, accusing him of incompetence and failures in the management of Ghana’s diplomatic relations.
Responding to the claims, Chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, said the issues raised by the Minority, including concerns over the suspension of immigrant visa processing and other diplomatic matters, do not warrant the removal of the minister. He questioned attempts to hold the Foreign Affairs Minister responsible for decisions taken by foreign governments, noting that such actions fall outside Ghana’s control.
“A decision by the President of the United States—how do we hold our Foreign Affairs Minister responsible for that decision?” he asked. “This is a minister who has been very active on the international front, engaging partners on job creation and attracting investment into the country, and these efforts are yielding results.” Mr Vanderpuije also addressed concerns raised by the Minority regarding the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative, stating that the matter falls under the mandate of the Office of the Attorney-General and should not be used against the Foreign Affairs Minister.
According to him, all issues related to ORAL have been referred to the Attorney-General, who has confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
“ORAL activities involving Hon. Ablakwa predate the current NDC administration. If there are issues relating to the alleged GH¢21 billion, they will be determined by the courts,” he said.
