The Chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Hon. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuye, has commended Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for his decisive action in temporarily shutting down the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C. following confirmed reports of fraudulent activity by staff.
The Minister ordered the recall of all home-based staff after investigations substantiated the allegations. The Majority Caucus supports this bold move to protect the integrity of the Embassy and Ghana’s image.
However, the Minority Caucus criticized the action as an overreaction, advocating for more diplomatic and measured responses, citing international best practices, especially given the global reliance of Ghanaians on consular services abroad.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday, 28 May 2025, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee commended the Minister for his decisive action which was timely.
Hon. Vanderpuije stated that: “We must not as Ghanaians condone corruption or ignor it when we see an act that is against the reseting of this country. So, we support the Minister for all the actions that he has taken.”
He confirmed that the Embassy would reopen on Thursday, 29 May 2025, with a new set of staff.
“Most importantly we are happy that the Embassy will reopen tomorrow. When the Embassy reopens the Embassy would be served without an iota of corruption,”
He further urged the Minister to replicate similar disciplinary and corrective actions across other Ghanaian Embassies suspected of similar fraudulent practices, to safeguard the nation’s global reputation.
“We have the information that such practices are taking place in other Embassies. We are very much aware of that as members of the Foreign Affairs Committee. So, we embolden the Minister that he should take the necessary steps to ensure that all our embassies across the length and breath of this world will be there to serve the peoples interest without any room for corruption.”
Watch the Committee’s press conference bellow
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
