The balanced obligation in an era of global pandemic: Ghana�s foreign policy in a Limbo

Abstract

This paper examines Ghana�s foreign policy under the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for relations with its neighbors. It examines the country�s national interest as is reflected in the policies advanced in the midst of the pandemic, particularly issues bothering on the closure of borders and what it says of the long-held position of �good-neighborliness.� The work attempts at understanding how in the midst of pandemics countries can strike a balance between national interest while equally honoring their international obligations. It dwells mainly on analyzing official documents and policy directives as juxtaposed against the various obligations of the state as a responsible member of the international community. We argue that being a responsible member of the international community requires adherence to the well-established practices and norms of international relations even in the midst of a pandemic; states ought to learn how and when to strike the right balance. � 2022 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.