Top US Senator Slams Ablakwa Over Trip to Washington DC: “We Cannot Keep Subsidising Ghana”

Top US Senator Slams Ablakwa Over Trip to Washington DC: “We Cannot Keep Subsidising Ghana”

  • The chair of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations criticised Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa's recent visit to the US
  • James Risch expressed concern with Ghana's handling of debt obligations to American companies, relative to commitments to China
  • The senator's comments, aimed at the minister, came after the US Bureau of African Affairs met with Ablakwa during his recent trip

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A high-ranking US senator has taken a swipe at Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa while in his official duties in the US.

Chair of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, James Risch, noted mounting financial commitments to China while allegedly neglecting obligations to US companies and taxpayers.

Chair of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, James Risch, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, China, Ghana debts
Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is criticised for his recent visit to the US by the Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, James Risch.
Source: Getty Images

In a tweet, Risch said the US could not continue supporting Ghana financially while it serviced larger payments to China.

The senator's criticism was in response to a tweet from the US Bureau of African Affairs upon meeting Ablakwa.

"Instead of a trip to DC, Ghana's foreign minister should focus on honouring his government's commitments to repay US companies and the American taxpayers. We cannot keep subsidising Ghana while it continues paying far larger debts to China."

Ablakwa had met with senior US officials at the State Department for talks centred on strengthening US-Ghana relations, with a particular focus on trade, immigration, and the looming threat of visa sanctions against Ghanaian nationals.

US visa sanction fears for Ghana

Ghana may currently be in the bad books of the US and is in line for visa sanctions following its inclusion on a US State Department watchlist due to a rising rate of student visa overstays.

The Trump administration may restrict Ghanaians from travelling to the US, along with 35 other nationalities.

In June, Ablakwa indicated US authorities had formally notified the Ghanaian government, citing a 21% student visa overstay rate.

Chair of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, James Risch, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, China, Ghana debts
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says Ghana is on a US visa restriction watchlist.
Source: Facebook

While acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, Ablakwa gave assurances that Ghana was not being grouped with countries facing sanctions for more severe violations such as terrorism.

The Washington Post first reported that a State Department memo was sent to US diplomats who work with the countries.

The countries facing scrutiny in the memo include: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Recently, Togo was among 19 countries slapped with travel restrictions by the Trump administration which has become more critical of immigration.

FBI warns students from Ghana

YEN.com.gh also reported that the FBI had sounded a caution to Ghanaian and international students currently studying in the US.

The federal law enforcement agency has warned that these students had now become targets for scammers working in the country.

An FBI agent in Seattle told Fox News that scammers were targeting overseas students by exploiting their immigration status for profit.

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Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Delali Adogla-Bessa avatar

Delali Adogla-Bessa (Head of Current Affairs and Politics Desk) Delali Adogla-Bessa is a Current Affairs Editor with YEN.com.gh. Delali previously worked as a freelance journalist in Ghana and has over seven years of experience in media, primarily with Citi FM, Equal Times, Ubuntu Times. Delali also volunteers with the Ghana Institute of Language Literacy and Bible Translation, where he documents efforts to preserve local languages. He graduated from the University of Ghana in 2014 with a BA in Information Studies. Email: [email protected].

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