Huffing and Puffing: A Reckless Call to Shut Down Embassies
In a climate already thick with populist overtones and short-sighted politicking, the recent call by former Member of Parliament Ras Mubarak to close down some of Ghana’s embassies is not only unfortunate, it is dangerously misguided. Cloaked in a veneer of nationalism and cost-cutting bravado, Mubarak’s proposition is a textbook example of jingoism masquerading as fiscal prudence. It must be called out for what it is: an ill-informed attempt to score cheap political points at the expense of Ghana’s strategic international interests.
Let us be clear, embassies are not ornamental outposts. They are vital instruments of statecraft. They are the lifelines through which nations conduct diplomacy, protect the rights of their citizens abroad, court investment, and navigate an increasingly complex web of global interdependence. To suggest that Ghana should fold up these critical missions without a sober, strategic evaluation is to fundamentally misunderstand, or wilfully ignore, their purpose and value.
Diplomatic missions serve multiple functions: they advocate for our national interests, engage in trade negotiations, coordinate development aid, promote tourism, and monitor geopolitical developments. In a world where a phone call is rarely enough and presence matters, embassies are the frontline representatives of our national identity and aspirations. They provide vital consular services to the diaspora and act as crucial safety nets in times of crisis, from political upheavals to natural disasters.
Yes, fiscal discipline is necessary, and yes, there is always room for reform and efficiency within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But downsizing Ghana’s diplomatic footprint should never be the starting point. Rather than dismantle the infrastructure of our foreign policy, let us instead evaluate how to better utilize it, how to make our embassies engines of economic diplomacy and not just sets of protocol.
Mubarak’s rhetoric feeds into a dangerous narrative that sees international engagement as wasteful and parochialism as patriotic. It is not. In a globalized world, retreating into a shell is not sovereignty, it is suicide. Ghana cannot afford to become an island in an era when strategic alliances and global networks define the fortunes of nations.
Instead of huffing and puffing about closing embassies, let us demand greater accountability from those who manage them. Let us insist on tangible deliverables, from trade deals to diaspora engagement strategies. Let us modernize, not marginalize, our diplomacy.
Former legislators, especially those who once enjoyed the prestige of international representation themselves, ought to know better. Inflaming national sentiment against foreign missions does not make us stronger; it makes us smaller. Ghana must look outward with confidence, not inward with suspicion.
We must reject the politics of withdrawal. Our future depends on building bridges, not burning them.
Source: Kasise Ricky Peprah
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