Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa


Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is a Ghanaian politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta region since 2013, elected on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress. He was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2025 under the government of President John Dramani Mahama. He previously served as Deputy Minister for Information and Deputy Minister for Education during the administrations of Presidents John Atta Mills and Mahama.
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Early life and education

Ablakwa was born on 11 August 1980 in Aveyime-Battor in the Volta Region of Ghana. He attended the Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School, Legon, where he served as Vice President of the Scripture Union. He studied Political Science and Philosophy at the University of Ghana, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. He later pursued a Master of Arts in communication, Media and Public Relations at the University of Leicester.
He also holds a certificate in leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Governance and a Master of Science degree in Defense and International Politics from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College. Prior to entering politics, he was the managing director of Savvi Solutions, a communications firm.

Political career

Early involvement

While at the University of Ghana, Ablakwa served as President of the National Union of Ghana Students from 2005 to 2006. He was also involved in drafting youth policies for the NDC's 2008 election manifesto and was a member of the Committee for Joint Action, a pressure group advocating for economic and social reforms.

Member of Parliament

Ablakwa was first elected to Parliament in 2012, winning the North Tongu seat with 90.5% of valid votes cast. He was re-elected in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 general elections. As a Member of Parliament, he has served on the Appointments Committee and is the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He also chaired the Assurances Committee and has been associated with a parliamentary initiative known as Operation Recover All Loot, launched under the Mahama administration.

Deputy Ministerial roles

In 2009, Ablakwa was appointed Deputy Minister for Information at age 28, becoming one of the youngest ministers in Ghana's Fourth Republic. He later served as Deputy Minister for Education, focusing on tertiary education, from 2013 to 2016.

Minister for Foreign Affairs

In January 2025, Ablakwa was nominated and approved as Minister for Foreign Affairs. He was sworn into office in February 2025, succeeding Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.

Public initiatives

In August 2023, Ablakwa announced plans for a public demonstration under the theme Enough of the Looting, focused on issues of public accountability.
In February 2024, he inaugurated a housing project for victims displaced by the Akosombo Dam spillage, an initiative led by former President John Dramani Mahama.

Personal life

Ablakwa is married to Nuhela Seidu, a lawyer and daughter of the late Mumuni Abudu Seidu. They have two children. He is a Christian. His uncle, Sam Okudzeto, is a lawyer and founder of Sena Chartered Secretaries Limited.

Philanthropy

In 2022, Ablakwa awarded a scholarship to Samelia Mekporsigbe, a pupil from Battor DA Primary School, who had won the Volta Regional USAID Learning Initiative competition.

Awards and recognition

Ablakwa has received several recognitions, including:

Employment