Okudzeto Ablakwa travels to Romania in solidarity with stranded Ghanaian students
After the government successfully evacuated 17 Ghanaian nationals caught up in the crisis between Ukraine and Russia, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in a bid to ensure another successful evacuation has arrived in Bucharest Romania which borders Ukraine to the South.
This was to afford the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament the first-hand knowledge of the experiences the Ghanaians went through as they escaped from Ukraine to this point.
On why he embarked on the journey he noted that “I do this not merely because it is a constitutional imperative of oversight imposed on parliamentarians; there is a higher obligation of our common humanity and nationhood.”
The legislator also revealed that currently, Romania host the largest number of Ghanaian students preparing to be brought back home safely, about 200 of them and was full of admiration for them and inspired up hearing their stories on how they braced through happenings in Ukraine before finally getting to Romania.
He also commended the efforts of Mr Tijani Aboubakar a member of Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Prague, Czech Republic for his efforts which the student also admired and appreciated.
The Romanians were also commended for their warm reception of the Ghanaian students with a Member of Parliament saying “The Romanians have been awesome with their exceptional kindness. Our nation owes them a debt of gratitude. It gave me great pleasure to host our courageous compatriots to lunch, convey messages of hope for a brighter future, and to make a modest donation into the NUGS-Ukraine welfare account.”
In the end, the legislator did not fail to offer words of assurance and encouragement to the students telling them that the government and the entire nation is solidly behind them in prayers.
He further assured the evacuation exercise had not ended and none of the colleagues will be left behind particularly those in the city of Sumy by promising that “Together, as one nation with a common humanity, we shall ensure the complete protection and rehabilitation of our beloved citizens.”
It has been a week since issues between both countries started leaving most embassies and high commissions within especially Ukraine with no option but to race against time to evacuate their nationals/ Ghana being no exception as the nation makes efforts to evacuate the rest of the stranded Ghanaians who have successfully made it to the borders countries of Ukraine.
Read Ablakwa’s full statement below.
This morning I arrived in Bucharest, Romania which shares a southern border with Ukraine to visit our Ghanaian students who escaped from the conflict in Ukraine.
The visit affords me the opportunity to closely assess their conditions and to better understand from their unique perspective how our nation can be more helpful to them as I engage them directly.
I do this not merely because it is a constitutional imperative of oversight imposed on parliamentarians; there is a higher obligation of our common humanity and nationhood.
Romania now hosts the largest number of Ghanaian students — an estimated 200, expected to be evacuated to Ghana.
I have been greatly inspired by the amazing stories of survival and resilience as narrated by our heroic compatriots.
I salute Ahmed Tijani Abubakr of our diplomatic mission in Prague for his impressive consular services which have been praised by the students.
The Romanians have been awesome with their exceptional kindness. Our nation owes them a debt of gratitude.
It gave me great pleasure to host our courageous compatriots to lunch, convey messages of hope for a brighter future, and to make a modest donation into the NUGS-Ukraine welfare account.
I assured our much cherished compatriots that the entire nation led by government is with them in prayers and solidarity. Evacuations shall continue and we would also never forget their colleagues who remain trapped in Ukraine, particularly those in the city of Sumy.
Together, as one nation with a common humanity, we shall ensure the complete protection and rehabilitation of our beloved citizens.
