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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.
Management and staff of Owass FM have announced the passing of media personality, comedian and politician Seth Kwame Dzokoto following a medical emergency during a live morning show discussion at the station earlier today.
According to the station, Dzokoto was participating in a panel discussion on its morning show “Oman Nkoso” when he suddenly took ill and collapsed.
A statement from the station said its team immediately rushed him to the hospital for medical attention, but he was pronounced dead by the attending medical doctor upon arrival.
“We are deeply saddened by this unfortunate incident, which occurred in the course of our regular programming. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones, colleagues, and all those who have been affected by his passing,” the statement said.
Management acknowledged that information about the incident is already circulating in the public domain, but appealed to the public and colleague media houses to respect the privacy of the bereaved family and refrain from circulating unverified information or speculation regarding the circumstances of his death.
Owass FM extended its heartfelt condolences to the family of Seth Kwame Dzokoto.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The State through the Attorney General (AG) has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the suspension of the trial in the case of The Republic v Hanan Aludiba and Faiza Seidu.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal suspended the trial in the case. But the prosecution says it has filed an appeal against the suspension order.
According to the update, the law does not allow a criminal trial to be suspended simply because an accused person has complained about some of the charges on the charge sheet, particularly when those complaints were dismissed as meritless.
It argues that if the Court of Appeal’s decision is allowed to stand, no prosecution will ever be possible, since all it would take for a trial to be suspended is an accused person complaining about anything on the charge sheet.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
