Investigative Journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has praised the Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for honoring individuals who are making Ghana proud with diplomatic passports.
“There are many Ghanaians who are putting the country on the map. They may not be politicians, spouses of politicians, National Cathedral promoters, or other affiliates of politics, but they deserve recognition.”
He acknowledged the impact of their individual talents on the nation and the effect they have on multiple generations, surpassing the influence of many political office holders.
“Artist Ibrahim Mahama, for instance, is quietly doing something I cannot summon the right words to extol in this short piece. He’s affecting generations in a way that not many political office holders in the Northern Region could ever do”, he noted.
In a Facebook post, Manasseh expressed his excitement for instances where countries appreciate individual excellence rather than solely prioritizing politicians, a practice he stressed is prevalent in Ghana.
“While on transit one morning, I saw an aircraft in Belgium with a man’s photograph on the tail of the commercial plane. The man was not a politician or a leader of a country. He was being celebrated as a famous writer. (I don’t remember the nationality). It warmed my heart that some countries recognized other contributors to their national lives instead of the fixation on politicians, as we see here.”
In concluding, he revealed that honoring such great talents by the minister will serve as encouragement to Ghanaians who are shining the light in their corners with their talents
“It, therefore, warms my heart that individuals like him have been given diplomatic passports. Beyond the benefit that the passport gives to its holders, the gesture is an encouragement to Ghanaians who are shining the light in their corners with their talents.”
“Kudos to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and his team for this initiative.”
