By Adu Koranteng
In a country of vibrant culture, resilience, and a proud history of leadership in Africa, it is disheartening — even heartbreaking — to see how low we’ve allowed our expectations to sink.
Over the past week, social media erupted in praise as Foreign Minister and Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa publicly celebrated the restoration of the United States’ 5-year visa policy for Ghanaian citizens. Images, hashtags, headlines — all beaming with triumph. But beneath the confetti lies a question we must all confront: What exactly was he celebrating?
This wasn’t a new diplomatic breakthrough. It wasn’t a fresh benefit Ghana negotiated through strength, vision, or strategic leadership. No — this was a restoration of a privilege Ghanaians once had, then lost, due to his negligence.
Let that sink in.
Ghana previously enjoyed the benefits of the 5-year U.S. visa agreement — a tool that allowed thousands of Ghanaians to travel, study, trade, and connect across borders. But we lost that privilege. Why? Because our government failed to cooperate with the United States on basic diplomatic obligations, including the repatriation of Ghanaian nationals. Our refusal to accept deportees — some reportedly ex-convicts — strained relations and pushed one of our oldest partners to revoke the agreement.
That revocation wasn’t just a policy change. It was a diplomatic slap in the face — a sign that our credibility had eroded. And now, with the policy reinstated, we throw a national party?
Humiliation Dressed as Victory
There are disturbing reports suggesting that, in order to repair this fractured relationship, Ghana agreed to accept certain deported individuals, including those with criminal records. If this is the unspoken cost of regaining access to a visa we should never have lost in the first place, then we must ask: What is the value of our national dignity?
We are bartering pride for access. Diplomacy built not on strength or shared interests, but on submission and damage control.
This isn’t the first time we’ve been here. And that’s what makes it worse.
Just a few years ago, Ghana was unceremoniously ejected from the U.S. Millennium Challenge Compact — forfeiting over $500 million in development aid. That money was meant to transform our power sector, help fight energy poverty, and uplift millions of lives. But through poor negotiation, political interference, and lack of consensus between the NDC and NPP, we failed. And the deal was pulled.
No protests. No accountability. Just silence — and now, déjà vu.
So when did we, the so-called Black Star of Africa, start celebrating the recovery of things we ourselves lost through error and apathy?
We Deserve Better
Ghana’s foreign policy should be rooted in long-term vision, national interest, and quiet strength — not flashy headlines and self-congratulations. True diplomacy doesn’t celebrate survival. It builds trust, influence, and lasting partnerships that uplift citizens — not just politicians.
A true statesman does not celebrate the restoration of a benefit.
A true statesman ensures that benefit is never endangered in the first place.
And yet here we are — watching elected officials spin mediocrity into miracles, clapping for the return of scraps we once had in abundance. It is more than embarrassing. It is a reflection of how far we have drifted from the standards we once held dear.
We Need More Than Spin
We need humility — not hashtags.
We need diplomacy — not damage control.
We need leaders who respect the intelligence, memory, and dignity of the Ghanaian people.
This is not about one political party. This is not about one MP or minister. This is about the dangerous culture of lowered standards — a culture where failure is met with fanfare, and where mediocrity wears the mask of achievement.
Ghana must rise above this. Not just for us, but for the generations to come.
Because the world is watching. And so are our children.
Opinion | Adu Koranteng is a Ghanaian journalist and social commentator focused on governance, policy, and international affairs.
