Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has issued a sharp rebuttal to U.S. Senator Jim Risch over what he describes as “offensive and condescending” remarks regarding Ghana’s debt obligations and international priorities.
Ablakwa’s response was triggered by a social media post from Senator Risch, in which the American lawmaker questioned Ghana’s financial commitments to China and criticised the Foreign Minister’s engagement in Washington while “ignoring” debts owed to U.S. companies and taxpayers.
But in a strongly worded reply, the Ghanaian Foreign Minister firmly rejected the senator’s commentary and defended Ghana’s sovereign right to chart its own course in global diplomacy.
“This is very rich coming from someone who refuses to advocate for reparations from the United States for its despicable role in the transatlantic slave trade. You will not be allowed to dictate to a sovereign country how it conducts its foreign policy,” Mr. Ablakwa fired back.
Senator Risch’s post implied that Ghana was shirking its financial obligations to American interests while prioritising payments to China — an insinuation Ablakwa found deeply disparaging and historically tone-deaf.
“If you need to be reminded — this is Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana — the first African nation to defeat colonialism and imperialism. Let me be clear, those measly debts compared to what you owe us in reparations would be paid when we deem appropriate based on our prudent economic recovery program — even though the debt was not created by the new Mahama Administration,” he added.
Ablakwa was emphatic that the debts referenced by Senator Risch were not accrued under President John Dramani Mahama’s current administration, but that Ghana remains fully committed to settling all legitimate obligations in a manner that supports its economic recovery and sovereignty.
“Unlike you, we take responsibility and honour our national obligations,” the Foreign Minister stressed.
The exchange comes at a delicate time in Ghana’s ongoing efforts to restructure its external debt while maintaining a balanced diplomatic posture between global powers, including the U.S. and China.
Despite mounting pressure from some Western quarters, the Mahama-led government has reiterated its resolve not to mortgage Ghana’s sovereignty under the guise of financial dependence.
As Ghana navigates its complex debt landscape, the Foreign Minister’s strong pushback signals a firm stance against what he sees as neocolonial attempts to undermine the nation’s autonomy in shaping its foreign and economic policy.
