Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has held high-level discussions at the United States Department of State in Washington, covering trade relations, security cooperation, and final preparations ahead of the 2026 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup.
The meeting brought together Ablakwa, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, and Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs Nick Checker, with discussions ranging across trade relations, business opportunities, social sector agreements, and security cooperation.
The Washington engagement represents an escalation in the diplomatic channel from Accra to the US capital, following a series of bilateral meetings held in Ghana over recent months between Ablakwa and Acting US Ambassador Rolf Olson. The Foreign Minister used the Washington platform to commend improvements in the US visa processing system for Ghanaian applicants, describing the progress as tangible evidence of strengthened ties between the two countries.
On the economic front, both sides explored new opportunities for businesses in Ghana and the United States, with the talks also covering major bilateral initiatives including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) programmes. AGOA, which lapsed in September 2025 and was subsequently extended by three years following a 340 to 54 House of Representatives vote, awaits Senate approval before reaching President Donald Trump’s desk for signature.
The 2026 World Cup, which kicks off on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featured prominently in the discussions. Ghana’s Black Stars are drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama, with their opening match scheduled for June 17 in Dallas. The government has budgeted US$13.7 million to support the campaign.
The Washington talks form part of a broader Ablakwa diplomatic tour that has also taken him to Kyrgyzstan, where he became the first Ghanaian Foreign Affairs Minister to conduct a state visit, as Ghana pursues an expanded multilateral engagement strategy under the Mahama administration.