News:
January 28, 2026
Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, has criticized Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, for allowing Ghana to lose out on key vacancies within the sub-regional body.
Afenyo-Markin, who also serves as Minority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament, attributed the losses to the country’s pursuit of the African Union (AU) Chairmanship for former President John Dramani Mahama in 2027.
“What if the countries we are depending on disappoint us?” he questioned during a press conference in Accra. “Ghana contributes regularly to ECOWAS and never fails in its obligations—check the records.”
He highlighted that Ghana secured no appointments for institutional heads, main employment roles, or technical staff positions within ECOWAS, despite being a significant contributor to the organization.
“We contribute a lot to ECOWAS as a nation, yet we are losing out on opportunities for our civil servants,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
Reflecting on the Minority’s role over the past year, he emphasized that their approach has been issue-based rather than personal. “We have been consistent in holding government accountable, as seen during the vetting of Mahama’s ministers and in parliamentary debates,” he noted.
Afenyo-Markin also questioned the Foreign Minister’s diplomatic conduct, citing an incident involving Ghanaian deportations from Israel.
“How can our Foreign Minister engage with ambassadors, post on social media, and then an embargo is announced the next day? How can you claim Israel deported some Ghanaians without engagement, and then retaliate?” he asked.
He suggested that a more measured approach could have averted diplomatic repercussions. “If our Foreign Minister had been cautious, we would have known that attacking Israel had consequences. A word to the wise is enough—we have nothing personal against anyone.”
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso for Ghanamps.com