Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Meets King Charles III | Discuss Ghana

On Monday, March 9, 2026, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, held a historic meeting with His Majesty King Charles III at St. James’s Palace in London.

The encounter occurred on the sidelines of a high-level policy discussion at Chatham House, where Ablakwa was representing Ghana to discuss West African security and peacebuilding.

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Highlights of the Meeting

The Foreign Minister shared news of the meeting via social media, highlighting the warm nature of their interaction:

Warm Greetings: Ablakwa described it as an "honour to exchange warm greetings and pleasantries" with the King.

Ghana’s Fugu: In a lighthearted moment that went viral, Ablakwa noted that King Charles III expressed his admiration for Ghana’s famous Fugu (smock).

"Fugu Renaissance": The Minister has been a vocal proponent of promoting Ghanaian identity through traditional attire, recently stating that President John Mahama’s frequent use of the Fugu has triggered a "renaissance to reclaim African identity" on the global stage.

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Diplomatic Context in London

Ablakwa’s presence in London was part of a broader diplomatic mission to strengthen Ghana-UK ties and address regional stability:

Chatham House Security Dialogue: Ablakwa participated in a packed event alongside Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, where they discussed the withdrawal of AES countries from ECOWAS and the role of international partners in supporting local security solutions.

Commonwealth Day: The visit also coincided with preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Day flag-raising ceremony, which Ghana marked on March 10.

Labour Mobility and Education: Prior to his London trip, the Minister held discussions with UK High Commissioner Christian Rogg in Accra to finalize partnerships in education and labor mobility for Ghanaian youth.

Promoting "Made-in-Ghana"

The mention of the Fugu to King Charles aligns with the Ministry's current marketing push. Ablakwa recently announced a directive to provide Fugu designed in national colors for all African foreign ministers and presidents as a way to showcase the "National Reset" and Ghana’s cultural heritage.