Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed shocked over the Minority’s criticism of Ghana’s aid to some Caribbean and African nations.
The Minority is demanding Ablakwa to appear in Parliament to brief legislators on the government’s GH₵10 million donation of relief items to Jamaica and Cuba.
The assistance package, aimed at supporting victims of a recent hurricane, comprises bags of rice, mattresses, gari mix, cocoa products, storage tanks, and other essential commodities. Part of the aid is also earmarked for Sudan, which is experiencing conflict-related challenges.
In Parliament on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, insisted that the government provides a clear explanation for the donations, particularly given that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) continues to grapple with a shortage of relief supplies for affected Ghanaians.
“The Foreign Affairs Committee of this House was not consulted in any manner. All we hear is that relief is being provided, but the process of procurement remains unclear”
“In this country, we face serious disasters, such as the recent flooding, where citizens have appealed for assistance, yet NADMO has indicated a lack of stock. We need transparency on this,” he said.
Responding to the comments in an exclusive interview on TV3’s NewDay on Thursday, December 18, 2025, Mr. Ablakwa defended Ghana’s donation of the relief items to Jamaica and Cuba, saying the practice is rooted in the country’s foreign policy.
“The Minority should be embarrassed that they take that position and seek to question Ghana’s compassion, love, kindness, in times of crisis. There is a humanitarian crisis. Ghana should be one of those countries able to assist and we’ve always done that. Our foreign policy has been rooted in empathy, humanity, compassion,” he stressed.
He cited instances in the past where Ghana donated to assist other nations in need, tracing back to the days of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
“…that is why Guinea, in 1958, declared independence from France and the French sought to punish them, took everything away from Guinea, the Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkruma set the tone for us. He gave Guinea a bailout of 10 billion pounds and since then, successive governments have followed that practice.”
Ablakwa further tracked down the practice to President Rawlings’ era where support was mobilised to support Japan when they had an earthquake, a gesture he says made Ghana’s chocolate become popular among Japanese to expand the market for it.
After the Haitian earthquake in January 2010, then President, John Evans Atta Mills, according to Ablakwa, supported with US$3 million, with President Akufo-Addo going to the aid of Siera Leone with US$1 million dollars after their devastating mudslide in August 2014.
“…so, it’s been government after government” reemphasising that providing support to nations in need is key in Ghana’s foreign policy.
“Our foreign policy will be defined not by how much we can take from others but by how much we can share with others,” he stated.
President Mahama donates relief items worth GHC10m to Sudan, Jamaica and Cuba
