International Relations Expert, Dr. Ishmael Hlovor, has highlighted the importance of Ghana’s humanitarian interventions, stressing that such gestures significantly enhance the country’s soft power, particularly within the Global South and the Caribbean.
Speaking on Morning Target with Philip Abutiate on Thursday, December 18th, 2025, Dr Hlovor noted that these initiatives are crucial as Ghana positions itself to become a leader among developing nations.
“You must also contribute somehow to their wellbeing wherever they are and that enhances your legitimacy, that enhances your appeal to them. They will begin to look at you as a country that will never turn its back on Africans,” he said.
Beyond global appeal, Dr. Hlovor argued that humanitarian efforts can also influence perceptions of Ghana as an investment and tourism destination.
“As you are doing some of these things, you have enhanced your positioning. Now global positioning as you enhance comes with benefits such as becoming the preferred destination for tourism, and investors,” he explained.
Responding to criticism of government’s humanitarian endeavors abroad, the lecturer traced the practice back to Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, whose internationalist vision continues to yield dividends decades later.
“In fact, we gave him (Nkrumah) a good African but a bad Ghanaian. But in the long haul, anywhere you go you are likely to meet somebody who’ll meet you as a Ghanaian and the name of Nkrumah will come up. So, he has bought for us a huge currency we continue to rely on,” Dr. Hlovor said.
However, he cautioned that responsibly and within the country’s means. “I think that we must also do it within the confines of the resources we have,” he added.
Background
Government has defended its donation of relief items worth GH₵10 million and the deployment of troops to Jamaica, describing the gesture as rooted in empathy, solidarity, and compassion. The explanation came after the Minority caucus called for the Foreign Affairs Minister to brief Parliament on the matter.
Addressing the House, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stressed that the move was not a departure from established practice but a continuation of Ghana’s long-standing legacy of humanitarian support.
“These historic actions spanning more than six decades illustrate that Ghana’s humanitarian diplomacy is institutional, principled and deeply rooted in national identity. They demonstrate a consistent belief that solidarity is not merely rhetorical but must be expressed through tangible results even in circumstances where resources are constrained. Our actions today are not departures from precedent. They are continuations of a legacy of compassion, leadership and responsibility that has defined Ghana’s engagement in the comity of nations,” he stated.
The relief package, aimed at assisting victims of a recent hurricane in Jamaica, includes bags of rice, mattresses, gari mix, cocoa products, storage tanks, and other essential supplies. Part of the support has also been allocated to Sudan, which continues to grapple with the effects of war.
