The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has hailed the performance of Ghana’s foreign service personnel describing their work as a lifeblood of the nation’s aspirations to progress and greatness amongst the comity of nations and across the world.
President Akufo-Addo spoke at the commissioning ceremony of the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Annex building, on Tuesday, 17th December 2024, Accra, a necessary move to meet the growing foreign service workforce in the country.
The six-storey annex building, according to President Akufo-Addo, represents a bold statement of our devotion to fostering diplomacy and enhancing the capacity of our Foreign Service. It will provide the Ministry with the facilities it needs to continue shaping and implementing Ghana’s foreign policy effectively.
The President, in recognition of the pivotal role of the Ministry, said, the Akufo-Addo government has undertaken deliberate steps to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry.
He said, notable among these initiatives is the establishment of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) in August 2023, a landmark institution that provides comprehensive training to Ghanaian and foreign diplomats, equipping them with critical skills in negotiation and policy formulation.
“It is gratifying to note that the Foreign Service Institute now offers French language programmes, empowering diplomats to engage effectively on the global stage, especially within Francophone Africa and beyond,” he said.
He touched on the instrumental work of the Foreign Ministry in advancing Ghana’s diplomatic successes, which includes promoting the successful bids to host the Secretariats of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the Climate Vulnerable Forum here in Accra, as well as, securing Ghana’s two-year tenure on the United Nations Security Council, and providing leadership during the two successive terms as Chair of ECOWAS.
Whilst conveying the gratitude of the government and people of Ghana to the government of the People’s Republic of China for funding the project, President Akufo-Addo also congratulated the Ministry for successfully advancing Ghana’s full membership of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie which has further cemented Ghana’s position as a bridge between Anglophone and Francophone Africa, thereby enhancing our influence and deepening partnerships.
The Accra Initiative, which underscores Ghana’s vision of a secure and prosperous West Africa, was also one of the key initiatives spearheaded by the Ministry.
He commended the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, “who has made history as the first Ghanaian and the first African woman to serve as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations.
“Her journey, from serving as my Deputy during the Kufuor administration, as one of the longest-serving substantive Ministers during my own administration, to becoming one of the most distinguished diplomats of our time, is an inspiration to all. It affirms that Ghana’s daughters can reach the highest heights with hard work and determination.
President Akufo-Addo was confident that the building will enhance the Ministry’s capacity to deliver on its mandate, and, by extension, contribute to the realisation of our collective vision for a prosperous and self-reliant Ghana.
