Nancy Pelosi deserves accolades for her historic address – Ablakwa

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has stated that Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States (US) Congress deserves high praise for the historic address delivered in parliament today.

According to him, Nancy Pelosi’s speech reignited the bond between Ghana and the United States of America (USA), noting that, both are fighting a common ‘enemy’, injustice in the country.

During her presentation, she commended Ghana for attaining enviable reputation in the comity of nations, citing the contribution of the Ghana Armed Forces has made towards attaining global peace as an example.

“Her speech was a great reminder of the ancestral bond we share, our common commitment to fight injustice as we mark the year of return 400 years on and the particularly enviable reputation of Ghana in the comity of nations especially our Ghana Armed Forces in contributing to global peace operations since the first deployment to the Congo in 1960 under the visionary instruction of President Kwame Nkrumah, the world's most celebrated Pan-Africanist who instructively featured prominently in Speaker Pelosi's address”, Mr Ablakwa stated.

However, the North Tongu MP was unhappy as Nancy Pelosi was silent about the comment made by President Trump on the restriction of Ghanaians from getting a US visa coupled with his strict immigration policies targeted at Ghanaians.

“I, however, regret her silence on President Trump's visa restrictions on Ghana and his hardline immigration policies which continues to target thousands of Ghanaian emigrants and other Africans in the United States”.

Read his full statement copied to Ghanaweb below

Speaker Nancy Pelosi deserves high praise on her historic address which she gracefully delivered to the Ghanaian Parliament earlier today.

Her speech was a great reminder of the ancestral bond we share, our common commitment to fight injustice as we mark the year of return 400 years on and the particularly enviable reputation of Ghana in the comity of nations especially our Ghana Armed Forces in contributing to global peace operations since the first deployment to the Congo in 1960 under the visionary instruction of President Kwame Nkrumah, the world's most celebrated Pan-Africanist who instructively featured prominently in Speaker Pelosi's address.

I was pleasantly struck by her frank emphasis on multilateralism and the need for nations to work together as she lauded Ghana's leadership on the 2016 Paris Climate Change Agreement despite President Trump's unfortunate withdrawal from the Accord.

I, however, regret her silence on President Trump's visa restrictions on Ghana and his hardline immigration policies which continues to target thousands of Ghanaian emigrants and other Africans in the United States.

One of the important takeaways from this visit must be the understanding by the visiting high-level delegation that many in Ghana count on the strong and dynamic leadership of Speaker Pelosi and the amazing members of the Congressional Black Caucus all of whom will be fondly remembered by our side, that the Democrat controlled House should be a voice of conscience in building bridges and bringing down all walls.

We wish the esteemed delegation journey mercies.

Long live Ghana - US relations.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

MP, North Tongu

Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament