‘You Speak Recklessly for a Diplomat’ – Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah Criticizes Ablakwa

Media commentator Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah has issued a stern warning to President John Dramani Mahama, urging him to reconsider the continued appointment of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as Minister of Foreign Affairs. According to Afrifa-Mensah, Ablakwa’s recent actions could pose serious diplomatic risks and tarnish the image of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

Afrifa-Mensah’s remarks come in the wake of a significant change in the United States’ visa reciprocity policy towards Ghana. The U.S. State Department has announced that Ghanaians applying for business and tourism (B-class) visas will now only receive single-entry visas valid for three months — a sharp contrast to the previous allowance of multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years.

Commenting on his “For the Records” show on July 9, 2025, Afrifa-Mensah blamed Ablakwa’s alleged confrontational diplomatic style, especially his recent public clash with U.S. Senator James E. Risch of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for contributing to the policy shift.

“Because of Okudzeto Ablakwa, Americans have limited our non-immigrant visas to just three months and a single entry,” he said. “He’s out there acting like Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister on social media, engaging in disputes with U.S. senators. That’s not how diplomacy works.”

Afrifa-Mensah criticized Ablakwa’s frequent online exchanges and involvement in embassy-related matters, questioning his professionalism and judgment.

“As a diplomat, you can’t go about responding to every critic on social media. You’re not on equal footing with senators of other countries. That kind of conduct is reckless,” he stressed.

He concluded with a cautionary message, asserting that if not addressed, Ablakwa’s conduct could end up harming the Mahama administration’s prospects.

“One of the biggest threats to Mahama’s government is Okudzeto Ablakwa,” Afrifa-Mensah warned.