Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has challenged statements by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa regarding the origins and execution of Ghana’s newly commissioned chancery in Addis Ababa, describing the Minister’s comments as inaccurate and misleading.
In a statement issued to clarify what he described as “egregious misrepresentation of facts,” Mr. Jinapor said the project was initiated under the previous administration led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and not the current government.
According to him, construction of the chancery began on February 10, 2020, with a sod-cutting ceremony performed by President Akufo-Addo on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. The event, he noted, was witnessed by senior officials from both Ghana and Ethiopia, including then Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde.
Mr. Jinapor explained that the project was initiated to address the long-standing absence of a permanent chancery for Ghana in Addis Ababa, despite the strong historical ties between the two nations dating back to the era of Kwame Nkrumah and Emperor Haile Selassie.
He rejected suggestions that the project had been ongoing since 2016, insisting that construction formally commenced in 2020 and had reached approximately 90 percent completion by October 2024.
He further attributed delays in completing the remaining portion of the project to outstanding contract payments linked to the 2024 general elections, arguing that the current administration completed only the final phase.
Mr. Jinapor emphasized that the chancery was a national project initiated by the previous government and completed by the current one, urging the Foreign Affairs Minister to acknowledge continuity in governance rather than attribute the project solely to the present administration.
He noted that recognising the contributions of successive governments reflects democratic maturity and strengthens institutional credibility.
The commissioning of the new chancery marks a significant milestone for Ghana’s diplomatic presence in Addis Ababa, which hosts the headquarters of the African Union and serves as a key hub for continental diplomatic engagement.
