The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) will aggressively prioritise the welfare of Ghanaians across the world by protecting and defending their rights like never before as part of the ministry’s key diplomatic engagement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said.

Speaking during an exclusive with the Daily Graphic, Mr Ablakwa stressed that the country expected to be treated with respect and dignity by other nations, just as it respected the rights of foreign nationals, especially those visiting the country.

"The message President John Mahama’s administration is sending to the international community is that we would demand that our dignity is respected.

We are a sovereign country.

“The kind of treatment that all these countries expect from us when their nationals visit us, that we should respect their rights, not to violate their human rights, treat them with dignity, not to deport them when they arrive without basis, without merit, we also expect that same treatment,” he stated.

The Foreign Affairs Minister asserted that although the present administration valued peace and cordiality with all nations, it would not hesitate to defend the rights of its citizens when abused.

“We want to emphasise that we will continue to seek peace and cordiality with all nations.

We are for peace; we are not for war. 

“But there are certain principles we will not compromise

There are certain lines that if you cross, we will not, as a sovereign government, just sit aloof, unconcerned, while you abuse the rights of our citizens.

That one will not be accepted,” he said.

On the reciprocal repatriation of some Israelis recently, the minister said the country’s position was consistent with international law and practices, and further underscored its call for respect for its nationals.

The Foreign Affairs Minister affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would vehemently protect the welfare and dignity of Ghanaians abroad.

To commence this vision, Mr Ablakwa indicated that he would make trips to Latvia and Ukraine to protect Ghanaian interests and pursue justice for nationals facing challenges abroad.

“On February 2 to 4, I will be in Latvia to pursue justice for the Ghanaian student who was killed under mysterious circumstances.

I have already dispatched a team from a mission in Berlin that has oversight responsibility.

But I have sought audience with government functionaries.

“I will be meeting my counterpart, the Foreign Minister of Latvia, and other Interior Ministers, the police chief, the investigators, because we want justice in this matter. I'm going with family members and forensic experts to assess the evidence.

“By that, we want to send a clear message that nobody harms a Ghanaian and gets away with it.

You harm a Ghanaian, the Ghanaian government will not rest until justice is done,” he said.

He also confirmed that on February 24, he would be in Ukraine for a diplomatic negotiation with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine for the release of a Ghanaian prisoner of war captured by Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the Russian side.

Call on international community

Mr Ablakwa urged the international community to join Ghana in building a peaceful and stable world where human rights were respected, and every life was valued.

He advocated a global order based on sovereignty, international law, and respect for human life, adding that the world did not need to go back to the days of colonialism, imperialism and neocolonialism.

"Let's all build a very peaceful and stable world where we respect everybody's rights, we treat everybody fairly.

We don't need to go back to the days of the transatlantic slave trade, the days of neocolonialism, colonialism, imperialism and all of that. We don't need that. 

“There is the need for a new global order of sovereign states, the rule-based order, respect for international law where we value every human life, no matter which part of the world you come from.

We just have to pursue that.

That's where we stand,” the minister stated.