Nana Picks 30 Ambassadors

President Akuffo Addo with the envoys

Twenty-two new ambassadors were yesterday sworn in by President Akufo-Addo to represent the nation’s interest abroad. This brings to 30 the number of envoys appointed by him so far.

As reported earlier, four-time presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama, has been appointed Ambassador At Large with Rasheed Seidu Inusah. They are to perform special duties but have not been assigned to a particular country.

Eight envoys, including Gina Blay, Ghana’s Ambassador to Germany,

had already been sworn in. Others are Papa Owusu Ankomah, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom; Dr Adjei Barwuah, to the United States of America; Anna Bossman, France; Frederick Daniel Laryea, Cote d’Ivoire; Stephen Mahamudu Yakubu, the Kingdom of Morocco;

Alhaji Rashid Bawa, High Commissioner to Nigeria and Edward Boateng, China.

Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Joseph Ayikoi Otoo, would also be representing the country’s interest in Canada.

Also on the bill are the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) strongmen, George Ayisi-Boateng, who would be heading the Ghana Mission in South Africa; Mike Oquaye Jnr, India; Sheikh T.B Damba, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Esther Dzifa Ofori, Equatorial Guinea.

The rest are Salma Frances Mancell-Egala, Turkey; Paul Okoh, Egypt; Mercy Bampo Addo, Malta; Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Togo; Sophia Horner-Sam, Netherlands; Amerley Ollenu Awua-Asamoa, Denmark; Elizabeth Salamatu Forgor, Namibia; General Francis Adu-Amanfoh, Mali; Joseph Kojo Akudbillah,Vatican; Napoleon Abdullai, Cuba; Margaret Akua Prah, Zambia; Professor Abena Pokua Busia, Brazil; Paulina Patience Abayage, Italy; Naa Bolinaa Saaka, Burkina Faso and William Azuma Awinador Kanyirigi, Ethiopia.

President Akufo-Addo charged them to help deliver his mandate, regarding betterment of the lives of the people of Ghana.

Mr Ayikoi Otoo, who spoke on behalf of his colleague envoys, thanked the president for the confidence reposed in them and promised not to fail him and the people of Ghana.

Dr Mahama, running as the presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention in 1996, received 3.0% of the total valid votes cast.

In his second attempt at the presidency in 2000, he garnered 2.5% of the votes.

In the run-up for the 2004 presidential election, the PNC and two other parties – Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) – formed an alliance known as the Grand Coalition and chose Mahama as its presidential candidate.

He placed third out of four candidates, winning 1.9% of the total votes.

Dr Mahama led the PNC for the December 7, 2008 elections, but lost

the position to Hassan Ayariga in the run-up to the 2012 general election. However, he won the position back from Ayariga for the 2016 elections but his performance was nothing to write home about.

After the defeat, Ayariga left the PNC to form another party, the All People’s Congress (APC).

By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent

 

 

 

Read Full Story