Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Foreign Affairs Minister has emphasised that the five Ghanaians awarded diplomatic passports were selected purely on merit, with no lobbying, political or partisan considerations.
He stated this during the handing over of the diplomatic passports at the Ministry in Accra on Wednesday October 1.
The recipients are travel vlogger Wode Maya, Grammy-nominated reggae artist Rocky Dawuni, broadcaster and entrepreneur Anita Erskine, contemporary visual artist Ibrahim Mahama, and British-Ghanaian entrepreneur Dentaa Amoateng MBE.
“This is entirely a country saying it is time to honour our heroes, and these people are deserving. None of them initiated the process. It was done very objectively, through a series of consultations with stakeholders, without political or partisan considerations,” Mr. Ablakwa said at the presentation ceremony.
He added that the recognition was not an exhaustive list, but a starting point. “We appreciate what everybody is doing. We know the creative space is so huge, and we value all your contributions.
“We want to send a clear message the diplomatic passports are not just for politicians, pastors, revered chiefs, or diplomats. We can broaden it to include those who promote our country.”
According to the Minister, the decision was also informed by the challenges many creatives face when traveling abroad for work, particularly with visa restrictions.
“When we see that you are really promoting our country, what helped us reach this decision is the difficulties we observed when you go about your trade across the world and encounter challenges in securing visas,” he explained.
The initiative, Ablakwa noted, is part of efforts to support and encourage Ghanaians who continue to elevate the country’s profile on the international stage.
Read also
