Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has expressed the government’s readiness to formalise collaboration with The Church of Pentecost to provide timely assistance to Ghanaians who find themselves in distress abroad.
The proposed partnership, which could be formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), is expected to leverage the Church’s presence in about 210 countries and territories to complement Ghana’s diplomatic and consular support, particularly in countries where Ghana has no diplomatic mission.
Mr Ablakwa made the announcement on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, when he paid a courtesy call on the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr Eric Nyamekye, at the Church’s headquarters in Accra.
The visit was primarily to express the appreciation of President John Dramani Mahama, the government and the people of Ghana to the Church for its support to more than 500 Ghanaians affected by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The Church provided shelter, food, clothing and other assistance to Ghanaians who were forced to flee their homes and businesses during the attacks.
Mr Ablakwa commended Apostle Bernard Boakye Anyimadu, the Church’s National Head in South Africa, as well as Apostle James Quaicoe, Area Head of Johannesburg and District Minister of Pretoria, and Pastor Senoo Godsway, District Minister of Kempton Park, for coordinating the support provided to affected Ghanaians.
He said the Church’s intervention was particularly significant because Ghana has only one diplomatic mission in South Africa, located in Pretoria, while the Church has a wider network of branches across the country.
According to the Minister, the Church’s extensive presence enabled it to reach affected Ghanaians in areas that diplomatic officials might not have been able to access promptly.
Mr Ablakwa also recalled the Church’s intervention during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, when its members and leadership assisted Ghanaian students and other nationals fleeing the conflict to neighbouring countries, including Hungary and Romania.
He said the experiences demonstrated the potential for stronger cooperation between the Ministry and the Church to enhance consular outreach and emergency assistance to Ghanaians abroad.
Apostle Dr Nyamekye welcomed the Minister’s visit and said the government’s recognition of the Church’s efforts was meaningful and encouraging.
He proposed closer collaboration between The Church of Pentecost and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressing that the Church’s global network could provide a valuable support system for Ghanaians facing emergencies abroad.
He said the Church considered its responsibility to Ghanaians abroad to extend beyond spiritual ministry to include concern for their welfare and safety.
Apostle Dr Nyamekye cited the Church’s interventions in Ukraine and South Africa as examples of its commitment to supporting Ghanaians and other people affected by crises.
He also reaffirmed the Church’s willingness to support government’s broader development and social interventions, including its initiative to construct prison facilities to complement government’s efforts to address infrastructure needs within the correctional system.
Mr Ablakwa said the Ministry would engage Ghana’s Heads of Mission and other relevant stakeholders to explore the proposed partnership and determine how it could be formalised.
He said an MoU could define the areas of cooperation and strengthen coordination between Ghana’s diplomatic missions and the Church’s international network.
The meeting ended with a commitment by both sides to develop practical mechanisms for strengthening the partnership in the interest of Ghanaians abroad.
