By Enock Akonnor (Managing Editor) enockakonnor2013@gmail.com
As Ghana edges closer to a heated election year, Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s recent public statement may be as much about diplomacy as it is about political positioning.
In a lengthy and assertive post sighted by Leaky Ghana Online on his official Facebook page, Ablakwa responded to intensifying public scrutiny over Ghana’s evolving immigration arrangement with the United States, dismissing what he called an “avalanche of conspiracy theories” and offering five key assurances to the public. But beyond the surface-level clarifications, the statement reveals deeper political intent: to control the narrative, reassure the electorate, and consolidate the Mahama administration’s image as both competent and patriotic.
A Strategic Response to Growing Criticism
The opposition, particularly elements within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has in recent weeks seized on rumors that the National Democratic Congress (NDC)-led government has entered into a secret deal to receive U.S. deportees, including potential criminals.
With Ghana’s visa ban reversal under the Trump administration being framed by critics as a “giveaway,” the government found itself on the defensive. Ablakwa’s statement, however, flips the script, portraying the NDC not as conceding to U.S. demands, but as executing a strategic, multi-pronged foreign policy agenda.
“Ghana will not be a dumping ground,” Ablakwa emphasized, in what many see as a direct rebuttal to the NPP’s talking points.
Reclaiming the Narrative: From Defensive to Offensive
The timing and tone of the Minister’s message are politically astute.
With 2026 elections on the horizon, the NDC is eager to project itself as a party of strong negotiators, Pan-African thinkers, and defenders of national dignity in stark contrast to what it frames as NPP’s overly Western-aligned approach during its previous administration.
The statement pivots attention to the broader benefits of the U.S. talks: a possible reduction in tariffs, a new bilateral trade deal, and extended AGOA access for Ghanaian textile manufacturers all of which can be sold as tangible economic wins.
Ablakwa’s Rising Political Profile
The move also bolsters Ablakwa’s own growing stature within the NDC. Already seen as one of the party’s most articulate and media-savvy figures, his performance in managing the foreign affairs portfolio and crises like this one has earned him quiet admiration from party loyalists and even some independents.
Analysts suggest this statement was not merely reactive but calculated; a way to demonstrate crisis leadership while subtly positioning Ablakwa as a central figure in the NDC’s 2026 campaign messaging.
Political Risks Remain
Still, the political gamble is not without risk. If the immigration arrangement is perceived by the public as opaque or if even one misstep occurs, such as a controversial arrival or a security breach, the NPP and other critics will likely seize on it with renewed force.
And while Ablakwa has attempted to discredit the “scaremongers,” the persistence of public distrust toward foreign policy decisions especially those involving Western powers remains a challenge for the Mahama administration.
The Verdict: Damage Control or Political Masterstroke?
Whether this is a clever containment strategy or a genuine attempt at transparency, one thing is clear: foreign policy has become domestic politics.
And as the NDC prepares its 2026 messaging, Ablakwa’s statement may be remembered not just for what it said about immigration but for how it signaled a shift in political momentum.
Source; www.leakyghana.com
Enock Akonnor is an experienced Ghanaian journalist, based in Kumasi and currently serves as the CEO and Managing Editor of www.leakyghana.com.
With a wealth of expertise built over many years in the media industry, he has earned a solid reputation as one of Ghana’s most sought-after journalists.
Contact:
📞 +233 541 921 562
✉️ enockakonnor2013@gmail.com
