Actor and New Patriotic Party (NPP) member Prince David Osei has sharply criticised Ghana’s handling of a diplomatic exchange with the United States, blaming the government’s tone and posture for the drastic reduction in visa privileges for Ghanaian citizens.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Osei described the U.S. government’s decision to cut Ghana’s visa duration from a five-year multiple-entry to a three-month single-entry as a “diplomatic misstep” that will deeply impact students, traders, tourists, and families.
“The issue at hand is not about individual responsibility, but about the obligations of the Ghanaian government as a whole,” he wrote, referring to comments made by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa during an exchange with the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
According to Osei, the minister’s tone during the engagement was “defensive and dismissive,” particularly his statement that he “personally did not incur debt.” The actor argued that diplomacy should not be reduced to personal narratives when national interests are at stake.
He added that diplomacy requires “tact, humility, and strategic communication” — attributes he believes were missing in the government’s response. The fallout, he said, is now being felt by ordinary Ghanaians who face heightened barriers to travel.
Osei also criticised the mixed messaging in Ghana’s foreign policy discourse, pointing to the minister’s invocation of Kwame Nkrumah’s legacy and calls for reparations alongside arguments about debt and sovereignty. He said these contradictions weaken Ghana’s negotiating power.
Calling for urgent reform, the actor proposed that the Foreign Ministry either issue a clarifying statement or quietly engage U.S. counterparts to restore trust and goodwill. He further urged a shift toward citizen-focused diplomacy, better internal coordination, and investment in diplomatic training with an emphasis on cultural sensitivity and emotional intelligence.
“Ghana has long been respected as a leader in African diplomacy and democratic governance,” Osei stated. “Let’s not allow one misstep to define our global standing.”
