Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has vowed to safeguard Ghana’s diplomatic assets in Benin, firmly stating that no government-owned property in the country will be sold under his tenure. His assurance comes amid efforts to restore and refurbish aging properties acquired by Ghana’s diplomatic mission.

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During a recent working visit to Cotonou, the capital of Benin, the Minister toured several state-owned facilities, some of which have been underutilized or left in disrepair. Among the six properties owned by Ghana in Benin, only one remains abandoned—vacant since 2019 after a fire incident damaged its electrical systems.

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While acknowledging that most of the properties remain functional, Ablakwa raised alarms about structural challenges with a number of them. Due to these issues, he noted that some staff have had to seek expensive private accommodations, which burdens the mission’s budget.

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He pledged government commitment to addressing the situation. “Initiatives will be undertaken to renovate and, in some cases, reconstruct the properties due to concerns about structural integrity,” he said. “No property will be sold under my watch.”

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Ablakwa’s statement is consistent with his firm stance against the sale of diplomatic properties abroad. Speaking in Parliament, he disclosed that with the full support of President John Mahama, the current government had halted attempts to offload Ghanaian diplomatic assets in Nigeria and Zambia—moves he attributed to the previous Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration.

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“Yesterday, I informed Parliament that with the full backing of President Mahama, we have canceled two transactions initiated by the previous Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to sell Ghanaian diplomatic properties in Nigeria and Zambia,” the Minister declared.

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He also revealed that one of the halted transactions involved an unlawful partial payment. Authorities are now working to recover the funds and bring those responsible to justice.

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“Determined efforts are underway to retrieve an illegal part payment in one of the transactions. The masterminds, who are currently on the run, will surely be found and sanctioned,” he emphasized.

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Reassuring Ghanaians of his unwavering stance, Ablakwa added that there would be no sale of any diplomatic property, either in Ghana or among the country’s 71 foreign missions, under the current administration.

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