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Government Accountability Series: Minister for Foreign Affairs renders account on performance of Ministry
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP) on Monday, September 15, 2025, took its turn at the Government Accountability Series to provide updates on the implementation of Ghana’s Foreign Policy.
The Minister highlighted achievements regarding scholarships, consular assistance, operations of Missions abroad, reforms put in place to enhance transparency and service delivery.
He announced that the Ministry secured over 1,500 scholarships for Ghanaians through its bilateral relations.
He added that in the quest for Ghana to become the educational hub in the sub-region, Ghana is offering 1000 scholarships to ECOWAS students in priority fields.
On the issue of Ghanaians who had to seek refuge in neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso due to the crisis in Gbinyiri, the Honourable Minister disclosed that 8000 had already returned from Côte d’Ivoire and Government was working with the relevant authorities in Burkina Faso to provide the needed consular assistance to facilitate their return.
The Minister announced the decision to open Consulates in Lisbon, Dublin, Massachusetts and Singapore to enhance Ghana’s diplomatic presence.
He also informed that the Embassy in Iran, which was temporarily closed would reopen on September 16,2025 and assured of the Ministry’s commitment to ensure the safety of the Staff of the Mission and other Ghanaian nationals in the country.
With regard to reforms on passport administration, the Minister informed that there was a Bill before Parliament to revise the current fees for passport.
Responding to questions from the media, he stressed that the arrangement with the United States of America to receive West African deportees was based on Pan-Africanism and not on financial considerations.
He also mentioned that the Chinese Government was committed in collaborating with Ghana to resolve the menace of illegal mining. Contrary to speculations, the Minister stated emphatically that past leaders of the country receive necessary courtesies.
He concluded by announcing Ghana’s participation in the upcoming United Nations General Assembly and indicated that His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama would deliver his statement on 25th September 2025.
He then reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to transparency by keeping the Ghanaian public informed.
Minister for the Interior, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, has confirmed that former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, is in prison and serving her jail term.
Speaking in an interview on Joy news, Mr. Muntaka dismissed claims that the former MASLOC boss was being held in a private location.
He said she has been in the custody of the state since she returned to Ghana.
“From the day Sedina came, she has been with us, and she’s serving her time,” he said.
The minister explained that the public is not usually told the specific prison where inmates, especially high-profile persons, are being held for security reasons.
He said even judges who sentence offenders do not necessarily know the specific prison where they are sent.
“If you want to visit her, you can write to the Prisons Service. They will talk to her, and if she is interested in you coming, she will let you come,” Mr. Muntaka stated.
According to him, disclosing the location of high-profile inmates could put their lives at risk, adding that some developed countries also keep such information confidential for security purposes.
His comments come amid public speculation over the whereabouts of Ms. Tamakloe Attionu following reports that she had returned to Ghana to begin serving her prison sentence.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Western Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), ACFO I Cecil Addo, has completed a familiarization tour of major corporate and industrial institutions across the Western Region to strengthen partnerships and enhance fire safety preparedness.
The tour covered key organizations including the Bank of Ghana, GOIL PLC, Ghanstock, Western Terminals, Zen Terminal, Keda Ceramics, Takoradi International Company (TICO), Volta River Authority (VRA), Harlequin Oil and Gas, and Western Serene Atlantic Hotel.
During the engagements, the Regional Commander encouraged management of the institutions to prioritize proactive fire prevention measures by incorporating strict safety protocols into their daily operations.
Discussions also focused on improving fire readiness and strengthening collaboration between GNFS and the corporate sector.
As part of the initiative, GNFS presented firefighting equipment, including Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) extinguishers, as well as Fire Extinguishing Balls, to support workplace safety.
The institutions expressed appreciation for the outreach and pledged to support regular safety audits, joint emergency drills, and potential Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnerships with the Service.
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