President Akufo-Addo exchanging pleasantries with the Ambassadors
Ghana’s enviable reputation as a stable and peaceful country has been enhanced due to the hard work of the country’s foreign envoys working under the current administration.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said this yesterday when he addressed the Conference of Heads of Missions at the Jubilee House in Accra.
The conference was attended by all Ambassadors and High Commissioners appointed by the President to the various missions around the world.
The event created an opportunity for the envoys to meet, share ideas and experiences, and deliberate on a range of government priority issues
While commending the High Commissioners and Ambassadors, President Akufo-Addo urged them to work harder over the period of their tenure in office.
“It is in our collective interest that we do everything we can not only to preserve this hard-won reputation, but also to attract the investments that would facilitate the structural transformation of our economy, so central to the future prosperity and stability of our country,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo expressed optimism that the outcome of the conference would further enlighten them on their roles and responsibilities, as well as the task ahead of them.
“You are the chief promoters of Ghana’s diplomatic and commercial interests in your respective countries, and this Conference will reinforce that motivation.
“As Heads of Missions, you are now required to be more visible and proactive in your dealings, in order to make the desired impact.
“You must endeavour not only to interact with the executive and legislative arms of government in your host countries, but also with academic institutions and influential civil society organisations, including the media.
“When this is done, you can be certain that you would have helped to promote Government’s agenda for economic transformation and the prospects that it offers all stakeholders,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo assured them of the government’s commitment to resolve their challenges and indicated that there had been a moderate increase in the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate their work.
“It is incumbent on you to exercise prudence in the use of the Mission’s resources, and find innovative ways of increasing the proportion of internally generated funds.
“Furthermore, the Ministry has also contracted a $50 million loan to help in the rehabilitation of the rundown infrastructure of many of our Missions. The Minister has assured me that the loan will be vigorously disbursed and employed in this new year of 2019,” he said.
The President urged them to work in collaboration with the Foreign Service Officers due to their experience and in-depth knowledge of their work stations.
“It has, however, come to my attention that, in some of the Missions, the exact opposite of my appeal is being adhered to.
“There are several reports of petty squabbles, turf wars, outright confrontations, and a complete breakdown in relations between some Heads of Missions and their respective Foreign Service Officers.
“This situation is completely unacceptable, and is proving detrimental to the smooth running of High Commissions and Embassies, and occasioning unnecessary, additional costs,” the President said.
BY YAW KYEI
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