Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has issued a sharp response to criticism from the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ben Cardin pushing back against what he called an attempt to undermine Ghana’s sovereignty and dictate its foreign policy direction.
The controversy erupted following a tweet from the U.S. senator who appeared to question Ablakwa’s presence in Washington, D.C., amid outstanding financial obligations to American firms and taxpayers. The senator insinuated that Ghana was prioritizing debt repayments to China while defaulting on commitments to the United States , a claim Ablakwa found not only inaccurate but deeply condescending.
In a strongly worded response shared via social media, Ablakwa drew attention to the historical and moral debt the United States owes to Africa, referencing the transatlantic slave trade.
“This is very rich coming from someone who refuses to engage in the same advocacy for the payment of reparations by the U.S. for its despicable and condemnable role in slavery,” he posted.
Ablakwa further stressed that Ghana’s foreign policy would not be dictated by any external entity, reaffirming the nation’s sovereign rights and independent diplomatic posture. He invoked the legacy of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, as a reminder of the country’s long-standing resistance to foreign domination.
“You will not be allowed to dictate to a sovereign country 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,” Ablakwa asserted.
Addressing the matter of debt more directly, the Minister clarified that while Ghana remains committed to fulfilling its international obligations, repayment timelines would be determined by domestic economic strategies not by political pressure or external criticism. He emphasized that the current administration, under President Mahama, is managing inherited challenges with integrity and responsibility.
“Let me be clear: those measly debts, compared to what you owe us in reparations, will 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. Unlike you, we take responsibility and honour our national obligations,” he added.
The public exchange occurred shortly after the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs posted about a diplomatic meeting between Minister Ablakwa and senior U.S. officials, including Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and Ambassador Michael Fitrell. According to the post, the discussion covered mutual interests in trade, immigration, and commercial relations.
“SBO Fitrell was glad to join @UnderSecStateP for a great meeting today with @GhanaMFA Minister Samuel Ablakwa @S_OkudzetoAblak where we discussed economic, commercial, and immigration issues important to both our countries,” the Bureau tweeted.
Although the meeting was officially described as cordial and productive, the comments by the senator have cast a diplomatic shadow, sparking renewed public discourse around sovereignty, neo-colonial influence, and the geopolitics of debt.