The Volta Regional Chapter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected calls by the Minority in Parliament for the dismissal of Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, describing the demand as misguided and politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Thursday, January 22, the party said recent developments regarding international migration and United States visa policies should not be blamed on Ghana’s foreign policy leadership.

“These calls are misguided, poorly informed, and disconnected from prevailing global diplomatic realities,” the statement said.

The Volta NDC argued that debates on immigration and welfare policies are not unique to Ghana–United States relations, noting that many countries across the world are tightening their immigration frameworks in response to domestic economic pressures and evolving policy concerns.

“The United States, like many sovereign nations, has adopted stricter immigration and welfare-related enforcement measures affecting several countries,” the statement noted.

The party listed Barbados, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Russia, Togo and Rwanda among countries affected by similar measures, insisting that singling out Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister is “neither fair nor diplomatically sound.”

It also recalled that visa-related restrictions on Ghanaian nationals are not unprecedented, citing the 2019 US visa restrictions under a previous Ghanaian administration.

“Such selective interpretation of events exposes the partisan motivation behind the present call,” the statement said.

The Volta NDC also pointed out that Ghana itself has exercised its sovereign authority to manage immigration, referencing the repatriation of more than 2,000 foreign street beggars between May and July 2025.

“It would be inconsistent and hypocritical to deny other nations the right to review and enforce their own immigration and welfare policies,” it stated.

Citing data from the Pew Research Center, the party noted that Ghanaians constitute the fourth-largest African immigrant population in the United States, emphasising their contributions to sectors such as healthcare, education and entrepreneurship.

“Assertions that immigrants primarily exist to exploit welfare systems do not reflect the full empirical reality of migrant contributions to host economies,” the statement said.

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The party also highlighted what it described as significant institutional and policy reforms under Mr Ablakwa’s leadership at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the establishment of new passport application centres, the introduction of same-day passport delivery, enhanced courier services, and the successful evacuation of Ghanaian citizens from conflict zones.

It further cited international funding and security support secured for Ghana, expanded support services for Ghanaian students abroad, and increased opportunities for Ghanaian participation in the FIFA World Cup in the United States.

The party urged Ghanaians and the international community to assess the matter within its proper global context and disregard attempts to politicise foreign policy issues for partisan gain.

“Ghana’s foreign policy remains guided by facts, diplomacy, mutual respect and the national interest, and will continue to be pursued with professionalism and responsibility,” the statement said.

The statement was signed by Mawutor Agbavitor, Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC.

Background

Recently, the Minority Caucus has called for the immediate removal of Mr Ablakwa, accusing him of repeated diplomatic missteps that have left the country exposed internationally, particularly over the recent U.S. visa policy affecting Ghanaian citizens.

“Ghana has always been a model of stability and reliability abroad,” he said. “Under this Minister, that reputation is collapsing. We are now listed as a ‘migration risk’ by the United States and facing diplomatic setbacks with Israel and Europe—all preventable,” Nana Asafo‑Adjei Ayeh said during a press conference in Accra.

The criticism comes amid a major shift in U.S. immigration policy. In January 2026, the U.S. State Department announced it would pause immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Ghana, from January 21, 2026, indefinitely, citing concerns that applicants are likely to become dependent on public benefits and require further review of screening procedures.