The latest ambassadorial appointments made by President Akufo-Addo have sparked significant public outrage and raised questions about the motives and timing of his decisions.
Critics argue that with only six months left in his term, these appointments are unnecessary and a blatant misuse of presidential power, possibly driven by ‘nepotistic motives’.
Leading voices from civil society, including Dr Kwame Asiedu Sarpong, Democracy and Development Fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) have been vocal in their condemnation.
Dr. Sarpong particularly questioned the appointment of Nana Bediatuo Asante, the President’s Executive Secretary, as an Ambassador-at-Large.
He pointed out that Ghana already has an Ambassador-at-Large, Mr Edward Mahama, making the new appointment redundant and suggesting it may be a way to confer an honorary title on a close associate of the President.
Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, reechoing Dr Sarpong’s sentiment expressed strong disapproval of these appointments.
He criticized President Akufo-Addo for making such significant diplomatic appointments when his administration is on the verge of ending.
“It is very rare for any outgoing lame-duck President to be appointing Ambassadors and High Commissioners with barely 6 months to leave office. In most of the destinations these diplomatic envoys are being sent to, it typically takes more than 4 months to receive full accreditation to commence diplomatic duties”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency and Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committe of Parliament
The Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa further indicated that the next President of Ghana will undoubtedly exercise his or her constitutional right under Article 74 of the 1992 Constitution to appoint new Ambassadors and High Commissioners.
This, he strongly posited raises the question of the necessity and rationale behind President Akufo-Addo’s last-minute appointments.
Financial Implication of Ambassadorial Appointment
Moreover, the North Tongu legislator raised deep concern over the financial implications of President Akufo-Addo’s last-minute ambassadorial appointments on the country’s struggling economy.
He pointed out that as these diplomats await their host accreditations, the Ghanaian taxpayer will bear the substantial financial burden of supporting them.
According to Honorable Ablakwa, the President’s latest appointment comes at a time when the country’s Foreign Service staff are struggling with worsening conditions of service, delayed salaries, rent arrears, inadequate residential accommodation, and a lack of a consular affairs budget.
“It appears to me that only the Ambassador-at-large, Nana Bediatuo Asante, benefits from these rather belated appointments since he wouldn’t require any host nation accreditation to be at large. It’s pretty obvious Bediatuo wants to leave the government with an additional title of His Excellency, so his cousin the President has obliged him”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency and Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committe of Parliament
Honourable Ablakwa also decried the plight of Ghanaian students abroad, who are on government scholarships and face delays in receiving financial assistance due to the government failure to pay their stipends.
He posited that the failure of the government to pay scholarships and stipends it owes to the Ghanaian students abroad paints a very bad image for the country in the comity of nations.
He emphasized that these are the pressing diplomatic matters that require urgent presidential attention, rather than the appointment of new ambassadors and high commissioners who may not even assume their roles before the current administration leaves office.
The National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament concluded his remarks by lamenting the timing, necessity, and financial impact of President Akufo-Addo’s recent ambassadorial appointments.
He therefore called on President Akufo-Addo to reconsider his priorities and focus on more pressing issues affecting Ghana’s diplomatic and economic standing.
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