Jack Alolome: Mahama’s global reputation a source of pride for Ghanaians abroad – Dr. Apaak

Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Clement Abas Apaak says President John Dramani Mahama’s international reputation is a source of pride for Ghanaians, citing an alleged racial discrimination incident involving gospel musician Jack Alolome during air travel.

In a Facebook post, Dr. Apaak highlighted the importance of having a President who commands respect in the international community, arguing that a country’s global standing can influence how its citizens feel when confronted with difficult situations abroad.

His comments followed an account of an incident involving Alolome, who allegedly faced attempts to be removed from an airplane because he is black.

Dr. Apaak described the musician’s experience as “a sobering and incredible experience” and commended him for refusing to yield to the alleged pressure.

“I commend him highly for standing up against the racists who sought to get him off the airplane simply because he is a black man,” Dr. Apaak wrote.

However, the Deputy Minister placed particular emphasis on President Mahama’s reputation, suggesting that the President’s name and international standing played a role in the reported incident.

According to him, Alolome narrated his experience in a video recorded on the plane, which he said had no other passengers.

He claimed that the musician invoked President Mahama’s name and threatened to sue the airline, suggesting that these actions helped him avoid being removed from the flight.

“As he narrated in the video clip he recorded on the plane, on which he was the only passenger — but for invoking the name of H.E. JDM and following up with a threat to sue the airline, he would have been dropped from the flight,” Dr. Apaak stated.

The Deputy Minister used the incident to highlight what he considers the importance of national leadership and international recognition in shaping citizens’ confidence when dealing with challenges outside their country.

He argued that the experience offered lessons not only in standing up against racial discrimination but also in appreciating the value of a President who enjoys recognition and respect internationally.

“We can all draw inspiration from his brave stand,” Dr. Apaak said.

He added: “First, never yield to racists and bullies. Second, it helps to be a citizen of a country whose President stands tall in the community of nations.”