A visionary shift in Ghana’s diplomacy: Okudzeto Ablakwa’s assertive leadership in action

Kofi Asmah, Esq.

At a time when public trust in political leadership is often fragile, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is charting a refreshing new path — one defined by conviction, courage, and competence. His recent statement that “diplomacy is not deception; it requires tact, but it also requires honesty” underscores a new era of assertive yet principled diplomacy, one that merges moral clarity with measurable results.

This philosophy was on full display this week when the Minister convened a high-level meeting with passport administration officials, regional directors, private partners, consultants, and courier companies to introduce enhanced security protocols for the acquisition of Ghanaian passports. The aim is simple but profound: to ensure that only eligible Ghanaians hold Ghana’s high-value passport.

His decisive action comes in the wake of disturbing revelations in the Ms. Niharika Handa and Mr. Punar Handa case, where Ghanaian citizenship and passports were fraudulently obtained through falsified documentation — a matter that has prompted a formal petition to the Minister for the Interior for deprivation of citizenship. Rather than issue bureaucratic statements, Minister Ablakwa acted swiftly, leading from the front to restore integrity to one of Ghana’s most important national symbols.

Under his watch, Ghana has not only tightened internal security but also expanded its diplomatic reach. The successful negotiation of ten new visa-waiver agreements and the reversal of U.S. visa restrictions testify to his proactive and globally respected diplomacy. These accomplishments have elevated the Ghanaian passport’s standing while safeguarding it from abuse by ineligible individuals.

In many ways, Ablakwa’s brand of leadership mirrors that of transformative foreign ministers before him — leaders like Ernest Bevin, who rebuilt Britain’s post-war foreign service with tough candour; Madeleine Albright, whose assertiveness advanced democratic diplomacy; and Naledi Pandor, who has defended African sovereignty with moral fortitude. Each was once labelled “confrontational” until their results spoke louder than their critics.

So too with Ablakwa. His visionary and positively assertive leadership is a hallmark of modern progressive governance — one that refuses to confuse diplomacy with timidity or integrity with indulgence.

This is the leadership Ghana needs: visionary, firm, and rooted in national pride. By acting decisively now, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is protecting not only the value of the Ghanaian passport but the very essence of what it means to be Ghanaian.

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