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The Minority in Parliament has called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to focus on delivering tangible outcomes in the ongoing evacuation of Ghanaians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa, rather than emphasizing public relations activities.
Speaking on Tuesday, June 2, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, acknowledged the importance of communication and public engagement. However, he stressed that the true measure of success lies in the safe and effective evacuation of citizens.
“While branding, social media engagement, and public displays during the reception of returnees may appear impressive, the priority must be on addressing the real challenges facing Ghanaians abroad,” Abu Jinapor stated. “The Minister for Foreign Affairs should focus on delivering results and pay less attention to public relations. Communication and social media are fine, but the substantive work comes first.”
The Minority emphasized that what matters most to both Ghanaians in South Africa and at home is the successful execution of government interventions, not the publicity surrounding them. They also noted that Ghana has a long-standing reputation for responding effectively to the needs of citizens overseas during crises and cautioned against presenting the current evacuation efforts as a unique or unprecedented achievement.
“At the end of the day, what people are looking for—both in Ghana and in South Africa—is results. This is not the first time Ghana has assisted its citizens abroad. Ghana has consistently demonstrated its ability to reach out to compatriots facing difficulties overseas,” Abu Jinapor added.
The comments come as the government continues to evacuate Ghanaians affected by renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa. So far, 297 citizens have been safely returned to Ghana.
The violence has sparked concern across the continent, with multiple governments taking steps to ensure the safety of their nationals. Mozambique has also reported the deaths of five of its citizens amid the ongoing unrest.
Story by Efua Nessa