Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, Member of Parliament for Mampong and former Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, has criticized Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the new Minister for Foreign Affairs, for his announcement on social media about the creation of “Students Desks” at Ghana’s missions abroad.
According to Ampratwum-Sarpong, this move is a “misplaced priority” that demonstrates Okudzeto Ablakwa’s ignorance of the workings of Ghana’s missions abroad.
The Mampong MP, Ampratwum-Sarpong stated, “It is an established fact that some of Ghana’s missions abroad have designated officers posted from the Scholarship Secretariat who handle issues regarding the payment of fees and welfare of Ghanaian students, especially those on government scholarship.”
He added, “In missions where these officers are not available, the concerns Hon. Ablakwa seeks to address constitute a prominent part of the functions of the Consular Section of these Missions.”
Ampratwum-Sarpong also quoted Okudzeto Ablakwa’s announcement on social media, which stated, “I have instructed eleven of Ghana’s missions abroad to establish ‘Students Desks’ to address challenges Ghanaian students studying abroad encounter about fees facilitation, immigration support, medical emergencies, verification of academic records, housing and accommodation and legal aid.”
Ampratwum-Sarpong criticized this move, saying, “The creation of a ‘Students Desk’ in Ghana’s missions abroad is certainly not the way to address this issue. The way forward is for the government to ensure that funds earmarked for the students are released to the Scholarship Secretariat on time for timely disbursement.”
Ampratwum-Sarpong also expressed concern about Okudzeto Ablakwa’s tendency to resort to social media to announce administrative issues, saying, “It is imperative to note that the Foreign Ministry is one of Ghana’s foremost institutions whose activities reverberate across the world and as such the Minister may be advised to curb his penchant for jumping on social media at the least opportunity to betray his ignorance in a manner that will ultimately dent the image of the Ministry, its staff and the country as a whole.”
-BY Daniel Bampoe
It is expense to employ inexperienced young guys in sensitive positions. SAMMY Should have humbled himself and take the deputy ministerial role but for greed and power he won’t.