Okudzeto Ablakwa opens up on new recruitment at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington D.C.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has rejected rumours claiming that new individuals have been recruited to take up positions at Ghana’s embassy in Washington D.C., USA.
In a post shared on his Facebook page, the Minister praised the embassy’s restructured diplomatic team for their exceptional performance following the reopening of the mission. He pointed out that the team had already made significant progress on their first day back in operation.
“From the briefing I have received, our reopened embassy in Washington D.C. issued over 800 visas on the first day of resumption,” he revealed. “I expect this level of efficiency, professionalism, and integrity to continue.”
According to Ablakwa, the new team at the embassy is made up of experienced and capable diplomats who have successfully led a major overhaul of the systems in place. He said their efforts had helped to improve the institution’s image and had brought about important reforms that are restoring public trust in the embassy’s services.
“This is a testament to the fact that Ghanaian diplomats excel when provided with the right ecosystem and leadership,” Ablakwa noted.
Addressing reports that suggested the new arrangement at the embassy included replacing old staff with newly hired individuals, Ablakwa strongly denied the claim. He maintained that no new recruitments had been made for the Washington D.C. office.
“Contrary to false and baseless claims, there have been no new recruitments to replace lost jobs in our Washington embassy — we have an adequate stock of distinguished and astute diplomats to lead ongoing reforms,” he clarified.
He added that the current changes are part of a larger national reform effort aimed at restoring dignity and professionalism across Ghana’s diplomatic missions. He called on Ghanaians not to misinterpret the restructuring as a political reward or a case of offering positions to party loyalists.
“This cannot be reduced to ‘jobs for the boys,’” he stressed. “It is part of a patriotic, consequential reset agenda.”
Ablakwa’s comments are part of a broader conversation surrounding Ghana’s foreign missions and the efforts to ensure that they operate with high standards. He has often spoken about the need for reforms in the foreign service, especially after issues surrounding inefficiency and credibility were raised at several embassies in recent times.
With the Washington D.C. embassy now back in full operation and processing visa applications at a rapid pace, many see this as a test case for the kind of changes the Foreign Ministry wants to implement across its offices around the world. Ablakwa’s reassurance that no politically motivated appointments have been made is likely aimed at maintaining public confidence in the process.
The Minister concluded by urging the public to support the embassy staff and allow them to carry out their duties in an atmosphere of trust and professionalism.