The NPP Minority Caucus in Parliament has set out immediate steps to tackle Ghana’s placement on the United States visa restriction list, attributing the development squarely to Foreign Minister Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s poor handling of diplomatic affairs.
The press conference took place on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, and was led by the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh.
According to Hon. Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, instead of pursuing quiet and strategic diplomacy, the Foreign Minister has leaned heavily on public confrontations and personalised counterattacks, especially in dealings involving American companies operating in Ghana. The Minority Caucus argued that this approach has done little to reassure international partners of Ghana’s dependability and sincerity. The caucus further asserted that statements issued by Hon. Ablakwa during his time as Chairman of Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) particularly claims that more than GHS 21 billion had been misappropriated from the state undermined confidence among foreign investors and strengthened unfavourable impressions of Ghana.
Nana Asafo-Adjei also criticised the Minister for failing to foresee the policy stance of a Trump administration, which has a well documented history of employing visa restrictions as a means of diplomatic pressure. In a forcefully worded statement, the Minority Caucus warned that the visa suspension jeopardises Ghana’s ties with its diaspora community and could lead to a substantial reduction in remittance inflows.
He stated that, “Nations are built through the combined efforts of citizens both at home and in the diaspora, each contributing according to their abilities and each playing an essential role in the nation’s progress. This visa freeze undermines that vital partnership and weakens us all. At worst, our people abroad will turn to opportunities in countries that show greater commitment to Ghana’s prosperity,” the statement read.
“The Foreign Minister’s megaphone diplomacy has placed billions of dollars in annual remittances in jeopardy and for what purpose? Merely so he can appear tough on television and garner social media praise, while Ghanaian families endure hardship in silence. He bears direct responsibility for this crisis,” Nana Asafo-Adjei declared. The Minority Caucus is urging a complete shift away from what it calls publicity driven diplomacy toward a more restrained and strategic approach in engaging key international partners. It cautioned that persistent grandstanding risks further isolating Ghana diplomatically.
“The President must immediately send a special envoy to Washington,” he declared. “We require an individual with the necessary authority, credibility, and standing to successfully negotiate Ghana’s removal from this list. Relying on routine diplomatic channels will come at a heavy cost to the nation.”
Nana Asafo-Adjei further criticised Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, saying, “Our Ambassador appears more preoccupied with issuing press statements than with safeguarding Ghana’s interests. This amounts to a serious neglect of responsibility at a pivotal time for our citizens and our economy.”
He continued, “We must rally support from ECOWAS, the African Union, and the European Union partners, while also engaging members of the US Congress directly. With each passing day of inaction, billions of dollars in remittances are jeopardised, families endure hardship, and Ghana’s diplomatic standing suffers additional damage.”
The Minority Caucus ended the briefing with a firm caution: “This is not about partisan politics. This concerns the very survival of our nation. Ghana deserves effective and competent diplomacy, not mere posturing. President Mahama must take decisive action now to prevent further harm.”
Editor:
Obiri-Yeboah
