The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified why its minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, failed to appear before Parliament despite an official invitation.
The minister was expected to respond to urgent questions in the House but did not show up and gave no explanation—a move the Minority described as part of a growing trend of evasive conduct by some government officials.
Reacting to the absence, Speaker Alban Bagbin expressed outrage and hinted he could issue a warrant for the minister’s arrest, describing the conduct as disrespectful.
However, in a letter to Parliament dated June 12, the Ministry explained that the invitation, which was received on June 9 and requested the minister’s presence on June 10, came at a time when he was out of the country on a national assignment.
“The Ministry regrets to inform that the letter was received on 9th June 2025 at 15:04hrs (see evidence attached) to appear the next day, 10th June 2025, by which time the Honourable Minister was out of the country on an official national assignment attending the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Changsha, China, accompanied by some esteemed Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs. It was therefore impossible for the Minister to attend the scheduled appearance,” the letter explained.
“Respectfully, the Minister had no knowledge of this invitation at the time the matter came up on the floor of Parliament,” it added.
Responding personally via social media on Friday, June 13, Mr. Ablakwa confirmed he had no prior knowledge of the invitation and reaffirmed his commitment to Parliament.
“For the record: I had no knowledge of the parliamentary invitation; I will always avail myself for parliamentary questions as I have done diligently and consistently; my high regard and utmost respect for Parliament and the Speaker cannot be questioned, and I am ready to respond to the questions in issue when Parliament’s notice is brought to my attention,” he wrote on X.
