The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential campaign is facing criticism from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority in Parliament for using the Foreign Affairs Ministry to send invitations to diplomats for a meeting.
Although the Bawumia campaign requested a meeting with resident diplomats in Ghana, the invitation was issued through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated that the request breaches diplomatic protocols and misuses the Foreign Ministry for political purposes.
He argued that this practice undermines the credibility of state institutions, especially the Foreign Ministry.
Mr Ablakwa contended that while it is acceptable for a campaign to invite diplomats for a meeting, the NPP should have done that directly without involving the Ministry.
Speaking on Joy FM Midday, Mr Ablakwa said, “If you look at the letter, the letter states at the instance of the Bawumia campaign diplomatic liaison team. Is the Foreign Ministry now telling us that with this precedent, the NDC can also write to them and tell them to organize the diplomats for us if we want to meet them?
“The CPP writes; Nana Bediako and Co. write to the Foreign Ministry that he wants to have an interaction with the diplomats, so the Foreign Ministry should invite them. You do not do that. The diplomats who have received this letter are themselves totally disgusted.”
He said the minority will seek to bring the Foreign Minister before Parliament to answer questions about the issue.
Mr Ablakwa stated that the action has undermined the Foreign Ministry and disrupted its functions.
He emphasised that sanctions and measures need to be implemented to prevent a recurrence.
“You do not do that. It is so disgraceful. You are lowering our image in the comity of nations. It is not done anywhere else. It has never happened. Look, the credibility and high stature of Ghana’s Foreign Ministry—the ministry that produced a Foreign Minister who became the first President of the UN General Assembly and a country that has produced a Secretary-General of the United Nations—look at how our Foreign Ministers are held in high esteem.”
Source: Kwaku Asante
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