Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister nominee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has vowed to establish a Consular Fund to provide crucial support for Ghanaians abroad, particularly those facing deportation from the United States.
Speaking before the Appointments Committee today, Ablakwa highlighted the struggles many Ghanaian citizens encounter when seeking assistance from the country’s diplomatic missions. He expressed disappointment over the absence of a structured financial mechanism to aid Ghanaians in distress.
“As ranking member, I advocated strongly for the establishment of a Consular Fund. I was shocked to learn that our hardworking foreign service staff have to sometimes contribute their own money to assist distressed Ghanaians out there who need consular assistance,” he stated.
He stressed the urgency of creating a dedicated fund for consular services, explaining that Ghana’s foreign missions currently lack a designated budget for such interventions. “In the budget for the foreign service, we don’t have a line item for consular relations. Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963, countries must extend these courtesies to their citizens. As Foreign Minister, when given the nod, I will make sure that we establish the Consular Fund.”
Ablakwa underscored the importance of this initiative in light of the United States’ recent immigration crackdown, which has seen an increase in mass deportations. “We must make sure that this fund exists and can be accessed by our foreign service staff to extend assistance, particularly in this period where the United States has announced mass deportation. Those who may be rounded up to be deported are entitled to consular support. We must get them legal assistance so that they are not just rounded up and their rights violated.”
He also condemned reports of inhumane treatment of deportees. “Even in the deportation, how they were deported, sometimes chained to seats and all that, treated as criminals. That is a violation of their human rights. These are matters I will pursue forcefully,” he added.
Beyond deportations, Ablakwa raised concerns about the overall responsiveness of Ghana’s embassies in addressing the needs of its citizens abroad. “Why do we establish embassies if we cannot use them to help our own people? It is unacceptable that Ghanaians in distress struggle to get the necessary support from our missions,” he remarked.
He assured the committee that, if confirmed as Foreign Minister, he would work to strengthen Ghana’s diplomatic presence globally to ensure embassies are more accessible and responsive. “We must not allow our embassies to merely exist as symbolic institutions. They must function as true extensions of the Ghanaian government, ready to serve and protect our people wherever they are,” he concluded.
His pledge comes at a time when the US government, under President Donald Trump, has ramped up immigration enforcement, leading to widespread arrests and deportations. Recent reports indicate that nearly 1,200 individuals were detained in a single day, with nearly half having no criminal records. The Trump administration has also announced plans to establish a large holding facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to house deported migrants.
Ablakwa’s commitment to setting up a Consular Fund signals Ghana’s growing concern for its citizens abroad and highlights the need for stronger diplomatic support in times of crisis.
