By Hon. Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong, MP-Mampong & Former Dep. Foreign Minister writes
Today I would like to formally welcome our newly-appointed Foreign Minister, my good friend, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to a productive and fruitful tenure. Indeed, during the last Parliament, I had a generally cordial working relationship with the new Foreign Minister, when he was the Ranking Member for Foreign Affairs.
But it is public knowledge, that since his nomination, there have been some concerns expressed about the combative posture and feisty temperament of the new Minister, with some pointing out that this makes him unsuitable for the job of Ghana’s No.1 Diplomat.
However, while I agree with the overarching concerns about his temperament and abrasive style, I beg to differ with the specific point about his unsuitability for the job.
I believe that Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa, with the right diplomatic guidance and adjustments in political posturing, can become an effective top diplomat for our country, Ghana.
This is due to my observation that, Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa’s confrontational posture while in Opposition, was driven by his misconception about the role of the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee.
As a result, he fought, opposed, alleged, wildly speculated, played mischief and accused, erroneously believing that as a member of the Opposition, his remit was to oppose every Government initiative (regardless of it being in the national interest).
But as we all know, this abrasive, combative, and confrontational style has no place in the dignified international community of diplomats, where tact, restraint, cooperation, and compromise are paramount.
Therefore, in my humble capacity as a former diplomat and Deputy Foreign Minister, I would like to share a few insights and pieces of advice with our new Foreign Minister, Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa.
1.The world of diplomacy is a totally different environment from the charged, toxic, politically polarized atmosphere in the parliamentary chamber. Instead of fighting “the other side”, you will need the cooperation of ALL stakeholders, in order to achieve your foreign policy objectives.
This includes the career diplomats and bureaucrats at the Foreign Ministry, the Parliamentary Select Committee, our envoys in our various Missions abroad, multilateral and bilateral partners, former diplomats, the local diplomatic corps, civil society academia, etc.
2. For this reason, the Foreign Minister must be a tactful, diplomatic, respectful friend to ALL stakeholders, and enemy of none. Remember, you now represent ALL Ghanaians on the international stage, not a political party. So, for you, it cannot be business as usual, with your combative approach and pedestrian propaganda politics.
While some stakeholders, both local and foreign, may not always agree with you, it behoves you, as Foreign Minister, to seek cooperation and consensus at all times. You cannot afford to label any dissenting stakeholder as “the enemy”.
3. Remember, with the evolving geopolitical landscape, international diplomacy has become an even more complex pursuit.
It requires a deep understanding of the issues, an open mind, patience, tact, and above all, loyalty to the State above partisan interests. It also demands CONFIDENTIALITY, and both negotiation and mediation skills, in order to prevent or solve conflicts.
4.In pursuance of the NATIONAL INTEREST, I humbly suggest you assemble a NON-PARTISAN group of foreign policy advisors who will not flatter you, but be frank with you. And please listen to advice from career diplomats, bureaucrats, and various experts in international relations.
Our foreign service officers at the Ministry are very professional, and I am confident that they will give you the necessary professional support at all times.
5. International diplomacy can be a minefield sometimes. Be careful to mind your language, choosing your words very carefully, both on the local and on the international stage.
Be especially careful, in articulating Ghana’s foreign policy position, lest you be misquoted. The rule of thumb is: It is always better NOT to say something you should have said, than to say something you should NOT have said.
It is also prudent to tread carefully, and say less, during informal conversations with foreign diplomats. As you know, even a reckless slip of tongue by a Foreign Minister, when leaked to the media, can create an unnecessary diplomatic crisis.
6. Therefore, as Ghana’s No.1 diplomat, a personal policy of tact, confidentiality, and “no-drama” conduct, will ultimately serve the country better, than the populist rabble-rousing and sensationalism which has marked your politics to date.
7.Uphold very high standards of integrity. Remember, international diplomacy is very different from local partisan politics, where propaganda, trickery, and false accusations are rife and which unfortunately is your hallmark. Without a demonstration of integrity and visible professionalism, the international diplomatic community will not take our Foreign Minister, and by extension Ghana, seriously.
8. On the global stage, cooperation, compromise, concord, and confidentiality, will determine your success as Foreign Minister.
Be careful to maintain CONFIDENTIALITY, by desisting from putting into the public domain, confidential bilateral discussions, or classified information which may create tensions between countries, or jeopardize our national security. No more I have intercepted this document, am the on trail of this and that etc etc.
9.On the local front, I would advise a complete decoupling of yourself from the current ORAL exercise, as it runs contrary to your new political mandate as the diplomatic representative of ALL Ghanaians, both home and abroad.
The ORAL vendetta will ultimately cause you to be embroiled in divisive political drama, and attract negative publicity for our Foreign Minister, causing reputational damage to Ghana internationally.
Please bear in mind, that NOWHERE in the world, is any Foreign Minister engaged simultaneously, in the persecution of his political enemies.
10.Under the stewardship of President Nana Akufo-Addo and Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Ghana has risen to new heights of international esteem in the last eight years. As you have yourself acknowledged publicly, we have not only become the destination of choice for all Blacks in the Diaspora, but have also become the principal advocates of Pan-Africanism on the global stage.
Our hosting of the Headquarters of the African Continental Free Trade Area, UN Security Council membership, hosting of many notable conferences like the Reparations for Slavery Conference, UN Peacekeeping Ministerial conference, the Accra Declaration, as well as several UN and regional conferences over the period, has cemented our standing as one of the most respected countries on the continent.
It is my hope that by your dignified and professional conduct in office, you will maintain the immense goodwill and high regard that Ghana currently enjoys in the international community.
11.Please sow a good moral seed for yourself, going forward, so that you can also reap it after your tenure. Give credit where credit is due, as several dynamic changes both local and foreign, have been chalked under the previous Minister, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway. Examples of some of the successes include the the massive infrastructural projects – State of the art New Chancery at Addis Ababa, New Annex building at Foreign Affairs HQ Accra, New Residency & renovated chancery for Paris Mission, New Residency & chancery for Brussels Missions, Renovated Chancery for Rome Mission, New Missions opened at Maputo (Mozambique), Trinidad & Tobago, Oslo(Norway) Kigali (Rwanda), 4 new Honorary Consuls opened in the USA – Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Worcester, Introduction and commencement of ICAO Complaint Chip-Embedded passport, Commencement of Machine Readable Visa system, E-Visa project , acquisition of land for the building of State of the art Passport Application Centres for Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Takoradi
For the record, our Foreign Ministry already works 24-hours a day, as our Missions around the globe operate in different time zones. At every material moment, an Embassy or Consulate somewhere, is functioning, and being monitored from Accra.
12.Be mindful to protect Ghana’s sovereignty at all times. The days when the NDC kept “reporting” the Ghana government to foreign diplomats, should be a thing of the past. It was an affront to our dignity as an independent, sovereign country, to seek the intervention of mere ambassadors in our internal politics. With respect, such self-inflicted indignities must cease.
13.For the record, I have respectfully found it necessary to bring the above to your kind attention, due to your track record of political confrontation, partisan mudslinging and pedestrian propaganda to energise the base and the foot soldiers as you put it.
Knowing the importance and symbolism of your personification of “the Ghana brand”, I am submitting this advice in good faith. Thus, I have respectfully identified the above areas as requiring a necessary attitudinal shift by your goodself, as you transition into the pristine world of diplomacy. Again, you now represent ALL Ghanaians, so for you, it cannot be business as usual.
14.Ghana has produced several notable diplomats, from Alex Quaison Sackey, Victor Gbeho, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Nana Akufo-Addo, KY Amoako, to Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, among others.
Indeed, your immediate predecessor, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway’s professional performance and conduct on the international stage, earned her the trust of 56 Commonwealth Heads of State, who elected her as the 7th Commonwealth Secretary General. I fervently hope, Hon. Ablakwa, that as Foreign Minister you will follow in that great tradition, and bring glory and honour to Ghana.
15.Finally, as patriotic Ghanaians, we understand that the effective execution of your role in promoting our NATIONAL INTEREST on the global stage, will be a victory for our beloved country, Ghana. Therefore, I hope your conduct in office will be equally PATRIOTIC, and not partisan. Our beloved Ghana must come first, before every other interest.
On behalf of the Minority Caucus, I wish you every success during your tenure as Foreign Minister. May God continue to bless our homeland Ghana, and make our nation great and strong. Thank you.
Hon. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong
MP-Mampong
Immediate Past Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs