Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has commended Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire for extending what he described as “exceptional hospitality” to Ghanaians who fled recent communal conflict.

Mr. Ablakwa, in a social media post on Wednesday, said he had taken time off his official engagements in Ethiopia to hold “fruitful telephone conversations” with Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabè Abroad, Mr. Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, and Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Diaspora, Mr. Kacou Houadja Léon Adom.

“I am deeply grateful…for the extremely fruitful engagements,” he noted.

He added that he had conveyed “the heartfelt appreciation of President John Mahama, the government and people of Ghana for their demonstration of true Pan-African solidarity and admirable belief in our ECOWAS free movement protocols.”

The discussions, according to the Foreign Affairs Minister, yielded an actionable roadmap aimed at safeguarding and assisting the displaced nationals.

He assured that “no effort will be spared in ensuring that our Ghanaian compatriots are well looked after and assisted to return home.”

Mr. Ablakwa further disclosed that the Foreign Ministries of Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire would meet urgently with Ghanaian embassy officials in both countries to explore new measures for enhancing the welfare and safety of the affected Ghanaians.

He added that the two Ministers had also agreed to facilitate his upcoming working visit to the two countries, where he plans to interact directly with the displaced nationals and provide the necessary support.

“They generously offered to accompany my delegation to visit our compatriots immediately I conclude ongoing high-level commitments in Ethiopia, which is led by our Vice President, H.E. Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang,” he revealed.

Reaffirming government’s commitment, the Foreign Minister stressed: “The Mahama Administration will continue to care for all Ghanaians, and will not leave anyone behind.”

He further urged efforts towards lasting stability, saying: “May we work to secure lasting peace in all flashpoints of our beloved nation.”

Mr. Ablakwa also reiterated Ghana’s long-standing Pan-African ideals, observing: “May we in the spirit of Pan-Africanism and African integration continue to open our borders to fellow Africans as Ghana has always championed, even as we pursue the dream of a borderless Africa.”