In a Facebook post shared on February 8, 2026, Al-Smith stated that he would personally not trade being a High Commissioner to a strategic country like Nigeria for the position of a Member of Parliament.
He described the diplomatic role as one with enormous potential to positively transform an individual’s life if handled with strategic foresight.
According to Al-Smith, the networking opportunities available to a High Commissioner in Nigeria are vast, offering access to powerful political, business, and international networks.
He noted that such exposure could help lay long-term and even generational foundations, advantages he believes far outweigh those associated with parliamentary office.
“But what do I know? Each to his own,” Al-Smith added, acknowledging that personal priorities and ambitions differ.
His comments come in the wake of the removal of Baba Jamal from his ambassadorial post by the President, following allegations of vote buying during the NDC’s internal primaries to select a parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso East seat in the upcoming by-elections.
The remarks have sparked wider public discussion about the relative influence, benefits, and long-term value of diplomatic appointments compared to elective political office in Ghana.