Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Also known as: MFA · Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Government ministry handling foreign relations, diplomacy, passport issuance; currently facing scrutiny over South Africa evacuation spending and passport issuance practices.

2026-04-252026-11-04

News reports

Order a long-term news report on Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Every mention in the Ghanaian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

October 2026
28 OctDaily Guide
… He said the caucus subsequently invoked the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), to obtain an itemised account of the expenditure and supporting documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. …
GH¢49.7m SA Evacuation: Ablakwa MUST GO – Minority
28 OctThe Chronicle
… It said an examination of documents obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a request under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) had revealed discrepancies between the minister’s claims and the payment registers. …
SA’s Evacuation Ruckus: Why Is Okudzeto Still In Office? … Samuel Jinapor Asks; Urges President Mahama To Sack Him If He Fails To Resign
27 OctJoy Online
… According to him, the discrepancies surrounding the GH¢49.72 million evacuation expenditure raise serious concerns about possible misappropriation of public funds, fraud and corruption, warranting an independent investigation into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. …
South Africa evacuation expenditure ‘smacks of a grand scheme of corruption’ – Abu Jinapor
27 OctJoy Online
… She said the process would involve collaboration with the Attorney-General’s Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Transport. …
Ghana to review laws to implement Accra Convention – Ofosu-Adjare
27 OctJoy Online
… The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also featured among the top 10. …
Ghana’s Interior Ministry tops government performance index as Trade Ministry ranks last
26 OctJoy Online
… But questions have since emerged over how public funds were spent and whether the records submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs accurately reflect the payments made. …
Playback: JoyNews Research fact-checks South Africa evacuation cost claims
26 OctJoy Online
… He also defended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its finance officers against allegations of financial impropriety in the management of funds for the evacuation exercise. …
‘I’m not discouraged’ – Ablakwa responds to criticism over South Africa evacuation
26 OctJoy Online
… The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, provided a breakdown of the expenditure, which included chartered flights, accommodation, feeding, and medical care. …
‘End the baseless attacks’ – Evacuees defend government over South Africa operation
24 OctJoy Online
… His comments come amid scrutiny of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the reported GH¢49.72 million expenditure on the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.
GH¢49.72m S.A. evacuation: Asafo-Adjei says government’s figures do not add up
22 OctJoy Online
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take its “ECOWAS For All” public sensitisation campaign to the Makola Market in Accra on Friday, October 23, to educate traders and other business operators on regional trade and free-movement opportunities. …
‘ECOWAS For All’ campaign heads to Makola Market to educate traders on cross-border trade

World & Region

Putin commits to halt Ghanaian recruitment, foreign minister says

The News

Following President Mahama's engagement with Russian President Putin at the Russia-Africa Summit, Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister announced that Moscow has agreed to halt the recruitment of Ghanaians to fight in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. An opinion piece flags this as a diplomatic win but questions whether the commitment will translate into lasting protection for Ghanaian citizens.

3 hours ago · Joy Online →

Today

Putin commits to halt Ghanaian recruitment, foreign minister says
Following President Mahama's engagement with Russian President Putin at the Russia-Africa Summit, Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister announced that Moscow has agreed to halt the recruitment of Ghanaians to fight in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. An opinion piece flags this as a diplomatic win but questions whether the commitment will translate into lasting protection for Ghanaian citizens.
3 hours ago · Joy Online →

Yesterday

Ghanaian organist found dead at Bronx dumpsite after disappearance
A 24-year-old Ghanaian, Joseph Owusu, was found dead at a dumpsite in the Bronx about two weeks after going missing. Owusu, an organist at Ghana United Methodist Church in the Bronx, was discovered among refuse by a scrap collector, marking another loss for the Ghanaian community in New York following the recent fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Ghanaian teenager in the same borough.
20 hours ago · Joy Online →
NDC accuses NPP of targeting Ablakwa over corruption record
The NDC has accused the NPP of targeting Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa with demands for accountability over the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, describing it as a "fishing expedition" aimed at discrediting him because of his record in exposing alleged corruption.
22 hours ago · Joy Online →
Minority demands sustained US cooperation for killed teenager Javits
The Minority Leader in Parliament has called on the government to sustain engagement with United States authorities to ensure justice for Javits, a Ghanaian teenager killed in the US, saying condolences alone are insufficient and the government must maintain diplomatic cooperation until those responsible face court.
3 November 2026 · Joy Online →
NPP Youth Protest Foreign Ministry Spending on South Africa Evacuation
Over 10,000 youth affiliated with the New Patriotic Party's Youth Wing demonstrated demanding accountability for GH¢49.72 million spent evacuating 1,964 citizens from South Africa amid xenophobic attacks, including charter flight costs. They called for a full breakdown and independent audit, and demanded the dismissal of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
3 November 2026 · Daily Guide →
NPP youth protests over South Africa evacuation spending, diplomatic passports
The opposition NPP youth wing staged a demonstration in Accra demanding government accountability over GH¢16.4 million in reported discrepancies in the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa, and calling for publication of invoices, contracts, passenger manifests and an independent audit of the expenditure. The party is also protesting the issuance of diplomatic and service passports.
3 November 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 2 November

Ghana's Foreign Affairs Ministry meets bereaved mother of teen shot in New York
The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs received the mother of 15-year-old Ghanaian national Javits Badu Nkansah Frimpong, who died in a shooting incident in the Bronx, New York. The government conveyed condolences and pledged to work through Ghana's diplomatic mission in the United States to engage relevant authorities and support the family.
2 November 2026 · Joy Online →
North Tongu residents to join Y3 Gye Y3 Sika demonstration in Accra
Residents of North Tongu and persons displaced by the Akosombo Dam spillage are expected to join the Y3 Gye Y3 Sika demonstration in Accra on November 3, according to the Volta Regional Youth Organiser of the NPP. The protest aims to demand accountability over reported financial discrepancies and secure funds for residents affected by the spillage to rebuild destroyed structures.
2 November 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana urges US authorities to expedite probe into teenager's death
The Government of Ghana has called on authorities in the Bronx, New York, to expedite investigations into the shooting death of 15-year-old Ghanaian student Javits Frimpong, who was shot in the stomach near Crotona Park on his way to school last Thursday morning. The Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that Ghana's Permanent Mission visited the family to offer condolences and support, and that the government will actively pursue justice with US authorities and foot all travel bills for the teenager's mother to the United States.
2 November 2026 · Daily Guide →
Opposition party raises alarm over diplomatic passport sales
The New Patriotic Party has written to the US Embassy alleging that diplomatic and service passports are being sold, demanding a suspension of courtesies and an audit. The allegation adds to earlier scandals involving World Cup visas and South African evacuations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2 November 2026 · Daily Guide →
NPP accuses government of issuing passports with fake titles
The opposition New Patriotic Party has alleged that the government issued diplomatic and service passports to six individuals who used fabricated or inaccurate public service job titles, and has petitioned the US Embassy in Ghana requesting it strengthen verification procedures and deny visas to passport holders who cannot substantiate their stated positions.
2 November 2026 · Daily Guide →

Saturday 31 October

Ghana funds mother's travel to New York for son's funeral
The Government of Ghana will cover the full travel costs for Madam Doris Adu Gyamfi, mother of 15-year-old Javits Frimpong who was shot dead in the Bronx, to attend her son's funeral in New York. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the decision following intervention by New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and US President Donald Trump in securing a visa for the bereaved mother.
31 October 2026 · Joy Online →
MFWA director calls SA evacuation criticism 'storm in teacup'
The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa has defended Ghana's evacuation of citizens from South Africa, saying criticism of the operation is excessive without concrete evidence of wrongdoing, though he acknowledges legitimate questions about costs and use of public funds.
31 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 30 October

NPP asks US to suspend privileges for passport holders
The New Patriotic Party has petitioned the United States to review its treatment of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passport holders, alleging that six individuals obtained travel documents using false or inaccurate official designations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The NPP identified the applicants as claiming positions at NADMO and the Fisheries Commission that they do not actually hold.
30 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana pledges to pursue justice for teenager shot dead in New York
Ghana's government has vowed to pursue justice after 15-year-old Ghanaian Javits Frimpong was fatally shot in the Bronx on October 29 while on his way to school. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa expressed condolences to the victim's family and called on Bronx authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
30 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 29 October

Ghana and Poland discuss trade, investment, and security cooperation
Ghana and Poland have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with discussions focusing on trade, investment, industrial development, technology, education and security. The meeting, held between Ghana's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Poland's Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Accra on October 29, 2026, provided an opportunity to review longstanding ties and identify areas for deeper cooperation.
29 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Vice-President addresses Shanghai forum on Global South reform
Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang attended the 2026 Global South Academic Forum in Shanghai (15–19 October), where she called for stronger South-South cooperation, multilateralism and reform of the global financial architecture to end debt traps, and urged Chinese investors to establish factories in Ghana for industrialization and AfCFTA market access.
29 October 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
NPP plans November 3 protest demanding Foreign Minister's dismissal
The New Patriotic Party has announced a nationwide demonstration on November 3, 2026, called "Y3gye y3 sika" to demand the dismissal of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and investigations into controversies surrounding an evacuation exercise and passport issuance. The protest aims to press the government for greater accountability over public expenditure related to these matters.
29 October 2026 · Joy Online →
NPP plans November 3 protest demanding minister's dismissal
The New Patriotic Party has announced a nationwide demonstration on November 3, 2026, called "Yɛgye yɛ sika" to demand the dismissal of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and investigations into controversies surrounding an evacuation exercise and the issuance of passports. The protest aims to press the government for greater accountability over public expenditure.
29 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 28 October

Foreign Affairs Ministry seeks relatives of deceased Ghanaian
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is appealing for help to locate relatives of Solomon Apia, a Ghanaian national who died in Nigeria on July 5, 2021. Mr Apia had lived and worked in Nigeria for more than 15 years as a cleaner and documents from his phone suggest possible family contacts named Steven Yeboah, Wisdom Nanor, Nana and Eva.
28 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Minority demands Foreign Affairs Minister resign over evacuation funds
Ghana's Parliamentary Minority Caucus has called for the immediate resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over alleged financial irregularities in the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa, citing discrepancies in expenditure records and gaps in supporting documents. The Minority has warned it will request President Mahama to terminate Ablakwa's appointment or initiate a parliamentary vote of censure if he refuses to resign.
28 October 2026 · Daily Guide →
Opposition calls for Foreign Affairs minister's resignation over evacuation costs
The Ranking Member on Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee has called on Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to resign immediately over alleged financial irregularities in the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa, which cost GH¢49,721,786. Documents obtained by the Minority Caucus allegedly show duplicated entries, gaps in supporting records, and unexplained expenditure.
28 October 2026 · The Chronicle →

Tuesday 27 October

Ranking Member alleges corruption in South Africa evacuation spending
Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, the Ranking Member on Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, has accused the Foreign Affairs Ministry of failing to adequately account for GH¢49.72 million spent on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa, describing it as a "grand scheme of corruption to siphon public funds." He claims GH¢16.4 million remains unaccounted for and has called for the Foreign Affairs Minister to resign pending an independent audit, citing concerns including duplicate entries, discrepancies in payment records, and cases where individuals did not receive full allowances.
27 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana reviews laws to implement Accra Convention on cargo documents
Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare announced that Ghana will review its laws to facilitate implementation of the Accra Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, which introduces negotiable documents of title for goods in transit and allows businesses to use cargo as collateral for loans. The convention aims to address inequalities in access to credit, particularly for businesses transporting goods by road, and recognises electronic cargo documents as equivalent to paper-based versions.
27 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Interior Ministry tops 23-ministry performance index; Trade Ministry ranks last
An assessment of 23 government ministries ranked the Ministry of the Interior first with 80.26%, while the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry placed last with 48.08%. The Index of Government Institutions' Performance Towards Economic Prosperity evaluated five areas of institutional performance including service delivery, financial management, transparency, workforce efficiency and public engagement.
27 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 26 October

JoyNews investigation uncovers forged signatures in evacuation records
A JoyNews Research investigation has found apparent forged signatures and discrepancies in payment records from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs related to the government-funded evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, raising questions about how public funds were spent and whether the records accurately account for the expenditure.
26 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Ablakwa defends evacuation spending amid cost criticism
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says he remains committed to protecting Ghanaians despite criticism over the South Africa evacuation exercise. The minister defended his ministry and finance officers against allegations of financial impropriety, maintaining confidence in their work and denying that money was stolen, as media fact-checks and the Minority have questioned whether all evacuees received the reported GH¢5,500 support payments.
26 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Evacuees defend government spending on South Africa return operation
The leader of evacuated Ghanaians has called for an end to attacks on the government and returnees over the evacuation from South Africa, which cost GH¢49.72 million for over 1,900 people. Each evacuee received GH¢5,000 reintegration and GH¢500 transportation allowance, though Parliament's Minority has demanded detailed expenditure breakdown.
26 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 24 October

Opposition questions GH¢49.72m South Africa evacuation costs
Deputy Ranking Member Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh has questioned government figures for the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa, claiming the expenditure of GH¢49.72 million does not add up and calling for thorough scrutiny of supporting documentation.
24 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 22 October

ECOWAS For All campaign educates Makola traders on regional trade
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is taking its "ECOWAS For All" public sensitisation campaign to Makola Market to educate traders on cross-border trade, the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, customs procedures, immigration requirements and business opportunities within ECOWAS. The engagement will include interactive clinics with officials from Ghana Immigration Service, Customs, Port Health and other institutions.
22 October 2026 · Joy Online →