New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Boamah, has urged Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to appear before Parliament and provide a comprehensive briefing on issues affecting Ghanaians living in South Africa.
According to the lawmaker, Parliament should not have to rely on information circulated through social media platforms when dealing with matters that have potential diplomatic implications for Ghana.
Addressing journalists in Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Boamah argued that while ministers often use social media to communicate developments, Parliament remains the appropriate institution for accountability and official engagement on national issues.
“So if the minister is in a country, like he always rushes to the House to brief us on visas and what have you, he should come to the floor. He should stop tweeting and posting. We are the people’s representatives,” he said.
The Okaikwei Central MP expressed concern that delays in providing lawmakers with official information could hinder efforts to address emerging challenges involving Ghanaians in South Africa and potentially affect relations between the two countries.
“Are we going to wait till the unfortunate happens, that diplomatic relationship between South Africa and us is severed? No, we don’t want that to happen,” he cautioned.
Mr Boamah also pointed out that Members of Parliament have a responsibility to represent and support their constituents regardless of where they reside.
He noted that many Ghanaians currently living in South Africa have elected representatives in Parliament who should be adequately informed to engage them and contribute to resolving their concerns.
“The people in South Africa, they have representatives in the chamber. If the person is from Takoradi, it’s the person’s MP. If the person is from Abeka, it’s the person’s MP,” he stated.
The MP maintained that a formal ministerial briefing would equip Parliament with the necessary information to engage affected citizens and help find solutions to challenges confronting Ghanaians abroad.
He therefore called for urgent action from the Foreign Affairs Minister, stressing that proactive engagement was necessary to prevent any deterioration in relations between Ghana and South Africa while addressing the concerns of Ghanaian nationals living there.
