"When You Touch One Ghanaian, You Touch all of Us" - Okudzeto Ablakwa

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reiterated its unyielding commitment to the safety and welfare of Ghanaians abroad under a powerful guiding core: “When you touch one Ghanaian, you touch all of us.” Speaking during an exclusive interview on TV3’s Key Points on October 10, 2026, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, emphasized that the protection of every citizen remains a paramount consular responsibility. He stressed that any hostility or threat directed at a Ghanaian anywhere across the globe is treated as an attack on the entire nation, prompting swift and decisive state intervention.

​This firmly stated doctrine was put into action during the immediate evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa amidst resurging xenophobic violence. Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa observed that while South Africa has experienced multiple waves of xenophobic attacks over the years, this intervention marked the first time the Government of Ghana acted with such extraordinary speed to rescue its people. Ghana’s proactive operational strategy set a historic precedent, making it the very first country to successfully mobilize and repatriate its citizens from the impacted regions during the standard diplomatic response window.

​The Minister explained that the evacuation effort focused on providing absolute safety to every citizen in distress, particularly those who had fled the attacks to seek sanctuary at the Ghanaian High Commission and local assembly grounds of The Church of Pentecost. Through coordinated diplomatic logistics, the Ministry ensured that every Ghanaian who felt unsafe and voluntarily requested state assistance was safely brought back home. Hon. Ablakwa noted that the mission was carried out with seamless precision to guarantee that no citizen in harm’s way was left behind or forgotten.

​Reaffirming the core mandate of the Foreign Ministry, Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasized that protecting citizens' rights and dignity internationally is a non-negotiable duty. Moving forward, the government's stance remains resolute: whenever Ghanaians encounter threats beyond the country's borders, national resources will be mobilized swiftly to ensure their safety. The successful airlift stands as a powerful testament to Ghana’s foreign policy, proving that the state will spare no effort to defend and protect its citizens wherever they may be in the world.

@Volta Today