A new review of Ghana’s recent diplomatic record has outlined a series of large-scale evacuation operations and foreign policy achievements under the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo, describing them as significant contributions to the country’s international profile.
The assessment, authored by policy analyst Razak Kojo Opoku, PhD, details Ghana’s response to multiple global crises and highlights initiatives aimed at strengthening Africa’s economic integration, climate leadership, and diaspora engagement.
Between 2020 and 2023, the government coordinated the evacuation of thousands of Ghanaians caught in conflicts and health emergencies abroad.
In 2023, more than 80 Ghanaians, mostly students, were moved from Sudan to safety in Ethiopia and Egypt following the outbreak of fighting in Khartoum. The group was later repatriated to Accra via Kotoka International Airport, now known as Accra International Airport.
The most extensive operation occurred in 2022 during the Russia-Ukraine war. Over 1,000 Ghanaian citizens were evacuated from Ukraine, making Ghana the first African country to complete such an operation. The first batch arrived in Accra in March 2022.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration also facilitated the return of about 2,262 Ghanaians from Lebanon. In total, over 9,000 Ghanaian citizens and resident permit holders were evacuated from countries including South Africa, The Gambia, Ukraine, Benin, Togo, the United States, China, Burkina Faso, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates.
The review credits the Akufo-Addo administration with securing Ghana’s role as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat in Accra.
The move, the report states, has reinforced Ghana’s position as a gateway for intra-African trade and a hub for economic integration.
Ghana also took a leading role in climate diplomacy. The administration successfully lobbied for Accra to host the headquarters of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and positioned the country as a prominent voice in global climate negotiations.
Under the “Ghana & Africa Beyond Aid” agenda, the government promoted a shift from aid dependency toward trade, investment, and strategic partnerships.
The policy sought to reframe Ghana’s engagement with the international community around self-reliance and economic cooperation.
On the multilateral front, Ghana spearheaded the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2667, which secured UN funding for 75% of costs for African Union-led peacekeeping operations. The country also held a two-year non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council from 2022 to 2023.
Regionally, President Akufo-Addo served two consecutive terms as Chairman of ECOWAS, leading mediation efforts to restore constitutional order in West African states facing political instability.
The administration also advanced regional security measures to contain the spread of terrorism and violent extremism from the Sahel into coastal West Africa.
The “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” campaigns were highlighted for deepening ties with the African diaspora and boosting tourism, trade, and investment.
Hundreds of diasporas were granted Ghanaian citizenship during this period, with many pledging to contribute to national development.
In response to COVID-19, the government partnered with the private sector to build treatment centres across the country, including the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre.
The review also noted Ghana’s advocacy for reparations and formal apologies to Haiti and the wider African diaspora for the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Opoku commended President John Mahama and Foreign Affairs Minister Okudzeto Ablakwa for continuing evacuation operations, citing recent efforts to bring home Ghanaians stranded in South Africa amid xenophobic attacks.
The report concludes that the combination of rapid consular response and sustained diplomatic initiatives has helped position Ghana as an active participant in African and global affairs.
