Pressure Mounts on Ablakwa to Purge NPP Appointees From Foreign Affairs Ministry

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is facing fresh pressure to rid his ministry of officials perceived to be aligned with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), with a social media post alleging that NPP figures still occupying sensitive positions could be behind recent activities at the ministry. The post, addressed directly to the minister, urges him to act, arguing that “we’ve got a lot of NDC guys with better qualifications to occupy these same positions.”

The message reflects growing impatience among government supporters who believe that political appointees from the previous administration remain embedded in key ministries and could be undermining the current government’s agenda. By framing the issue as one of both loyalty and competence, the post attempts to make the case that replacing these officials is not merely a matter of political patronage but of ensuring the ministry is staffed by capable hands.

The appeal to Ablakwa is significant given his profile as one of the government’s most visible ministers. Since assuming office, he has been at the centre of several high-profile initiatives and controversies, including the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa—a matter that the NPP Youth Wing has now cited as grounds for a planned demonstration. The post’s suggestion that NPP-aligned officials could be behind “certain recent activities” implicitly links the ministry’s internal staffing to the political attacks it is facing.

The demand also raises familiar questions about the balance between continuity and political turnover in Ghana’s public service. Ministries often retain career civil servants and technical staff across administrations, and wholesale replacement of officials can disrupt institutional memory. However, supporters of the current government argue that sensitive positions must be held by individuals committed to the administration’s policies, particularly when leaks or internal opposition are suspected.

Neither Ablakwa nor the Foreign Affairs Ministry has responded publicly to the post, and it remains unclear whether any staffing changes are being considered. The call adds to the political pressure on the minister as he navigates both policy challenges and partisan expectations.