Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has delivered a passionate and uncompromising response to comments made by US Senator Jim Risch, after the American lawmaker criticised Ghana over its debt obligations and foreign policy decisions.
The row began when Senator Risch, in a July 4 post on X (formerly Twitter), suggested that Ghana’s Foreign Minister should have stayed home instead of visiting Washington, accusing the West African nation of failing to repay US companies and prioritising Chinese loans.
“Instead of a trip to DC,” Risch wrote, “Ghana’s foreign minister should focus on honouring his government’s commitments to repay US companies and the American taxpayers. We cannot keep subsidising Ghana while it continues paying far larger debts to China.”
But the comment didn’t sit well with Ablakwa—and he made sure the world knew it.
“This is Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana”
In a blistering social media response, Ablakwa called the senator’s remarks “extremely offensive and hypocritical,” questioning the moral basis of the US critique, especially given America’s historical legacy of slavery and colonial backing in Africa.
“This is very rich,” Ablakwa fired back, “coming from someone who refuses to advocate for the payment of reparations by the US for its despicable and condemnable role in slavery.”
He continued with a powerful reminder: “You will not be allowed to dictate to a sovereign country on how we conduct our foreign policy. If you need to be reminded—this is Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana—the first African nation to defeat colonialism and imperialism.”
Cleaning House, Leading by Example
Ablakwa’s visit to Washington wasn’t a ceremonial one. It came on the heels of a major internal scandal at Ghana’s US embassy involving a visa fraud scheme. In a bold move, Ablakwa shut down the embassy temporarily, fired staff involved, and launched legal and auditing measures to recover public funds—an action many Ghanaians praised as a rare display of accountability and integrity in foreign service.
Far from dodging responsibility, the Foreign Minister made it clear that Ghana acknowledges its obligations—and will meet them on its own terms.
“Those measly debts,” he said, “compared to what you owe us in reparations, would be paid when we deem appropriate. Unlike you, we take responsibility and honour our national obligations.”
Africa’s Growing Voice on the Global Stage
The exchange between Ablakwa and Risch touches on something bigger than just loan repayments. It reflects a new chapter in African diplomacy—one where leaders are no longer afraid to challenge double standards, even from powerful nations like the United States.
As Ghana continues to restructure its debts under the IMF programme, the country has taken a balanced approach—maintaining ties with both the West and emerging powers like China. To many observers, Risch’s comments appear stuck in an outdated Cold War mindset that fails to respect Africa’s evolving political maturity.
For Ghana, this isn’t about choosing sides—it’s about asserting dignity, fairness, and self-determination.
The Bigger Picture: Sovereignty and Respect
No official response has been issued yet by the US State Department, but analysts say this war of words may cast a shadow over future Ghana-US engagements. Still, many in Ghana view Ablakwa’s stand not as a breakdown in diplomacy—but as a moment of truth.
It signals that Ghana, like many other African countries, will no longer be told who to trade with, how to govern, or when to speak.
As Ablakwa firmly concluded:
“We will not be dictated to.”
