By Iddi Yire
Accra, Jan. 21, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday, January 21, appointed Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Mr Ablakwa is a four term Ghanaian legislator representing the good people of North Tongu in the Volta Region.
He has had an illustrious public service career spanning some two decades, with a reputation for being a strong advocate for ethical, transparent and transformational leadership.
For nearly eight years, between 2017 and 2024, Mr Ablakwa served as a Ranking Member of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs.
He rose to become the first Chairman of the reformed Assurances Committee.
Mr Ablakwa is currently the Chairman of President John Mahama’s flagship anti-corruption drive, Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).
In 2009, he was appointed Deputy Minister for Information by the late President John Evans Atta Mills of blessed memory.
By that appointment, he made history as the youngest Deputy Minister of Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
President John Dramani Mahama also appointed him as a Deputy Minister for Education in charge of Tertiary Education in 2013.
His academic credentials include reading Political Science, Philosophy and Economics for his first degree at the University of Ghana, an LLB from the University of London, MSc in Defense and International Politics from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, an MA in Communications and Public Relations from the University of Leicester and an Executive Certificate in Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Governance.
Before he was called into national politics, he was the MD of Sawvi Solutions and before then a University of Ghana Branch Manager of Carrera Computers.
Mr Ablakwa is the recipient of numerous awards including an honorary doctorate degree from the AMET University in India, being adjudged the Most Impactful Member of Parliament in 2024, medal of honour from the Ghana Medical Association, special award from the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, citation from the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation and making it to the list of the 2025 Most Influential 100 Africans.
He is a prolific author, former President of NUGS, member of the Parliamentarians for Global Action, accredited member of the Institute for Public Relations (APR), member of the African Leadership Network, Fellow, African Youth Governance Convergence, member of the American Council for Young Political Leaders and Chairman of the Ghana-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Association.
He is married to Lawyer Nuhela Seidu, a senior partner at Sory@Law.
They are blessed with two children.
GNA