Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed satisfaction with his engagement with Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah, Ghana’s longest-serving Foreign Minister.
The North Tongu MP interacted with the former minister ahead of his vetting on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
Taking to Facebook, Mr. Ablakwa described the visit as a “genuinely great honour.”
He touted it as a rare opportunity to gain insights from a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in foreign policy.
Dr. Asamoah, who is now 89 years old, served as Ghana’s Foreign Minister for an impressive 16 years, from 1981 to 1997, during the President Rawlings era.
“He is also the only Foreign Minister to have simultaneously occupied the position of Attorney-General and Minister of Justice,” Mr. Ablakwa eulogised in his post.
Reflecting on the visit, the former Deputy Education Minister expressed gratitude for the statesman’s warm reception, encouragement, and the wealth of knowledge shared.
“I am extremely grateful to the extraordinary statesman and member of the NDC’s Council of Elders for receiving me in his home today; for his kind encouragement; for his blessings; for his generous insights; and for his perspectives, which were a masterclass,” he stated.
Mr. Ablakwa revealed that Dr. Asamoah’s confidence in President Mahama’s foreign policy agenda was particularly inspiring.
“It was additionally refreshing hearing him express confidence that President Mahama will succeed with his foreign policy objectives,” he remarked.
The MP further acknowledged the contributions of veteran public servants like Dr. Asamoah, stating, “God bless all our outstanding patriots for paving the way for the younger generation.”
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