Politics of Friday, 6 September 2024

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

No country invites top diplomats to a partisan campaign - Okudzeto Ablakwa fumes

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-Bawumia's administration, alleging abuse of incumbency and misuse of Ghana’s Foreign Ministry.

In a social media post dated September 5, 2024, Ablakwa claimed that an intercepted diplomatic letter revealed the administration's blatant disregard for diplomatic protocols. 

He criticized the government for allegedly directing the Foreign Ministry to invite top diplomats to a partisan campaign event, a move he described as unprecedented in Ghana's history.

“An intercepted diplomatic letter exposes the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government for gross abuse of incumbency, utter misuse of Ghana’s Foreign Ministry, and blatant disregard for diplomatic protocols. No country misdirects its Foreign Ministry to invite top diplomats to a partisan campaign event,” Ablakwa stated.

He emphasized that foreign ministries worldwide maintain professionalism, even during election campaigns, and resist any temptation to be seen as extensions of political parties. 

Ablakwa argued that this incident marks the first time Ghana’s Foreign Ministry has been compelled to invite heads of diplomatic missions and honorary consulates to a partisan event.

“The Bawumia campaign should have proceeded to invite the top diplomats directly to tomorrow’s campaign event without asking our Foreign Ministry to do that on their behalf. Is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration therefore suggesting that the NDC, CPP, or any other party or presidential campaign can now ask them to organize diplomats for them?” he questioned.

“It is my sincerest hope that distinguished serving and retired Ghanaian senior diplomats will rise up and resist this condemnable debasement of our Foreign Ministry.”



AM/OGB

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