From left: Ambassador James Victor Gbeho; Dr Obed Asamoah; Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff; Ambassador Chris Kpodo; Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Yassine Fall, the Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs of Senegal; Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas and James Gyakye-Quayeson, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Richard M. Akwei (in wheelchair), a former Ghana Permanent Representative at the UN, at the event

5 Veteran diplomats honoured for distinguished service

Pacome Emmanuel Damalie Sep - 09 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has honoured five veteran diplomats for their remarkable contribution to the country’s foreign policy and diplomacy over the years.

The awardees included the first Foreign Affairs Minister under the Fourth Republic, Dr Obed Asamoah; former Counsellor and Head of Chancery of the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC, Ambassador Richard Maximillian Akwei, and former President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho.

Others were, a former High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador Chris Kpodo, and the Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas.

The awards were in honour of their distinguished public service and invaluable contribution to the nation which had left a lasting legacy in the annals of the nation’s diplomacy.

The event took place at a Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the close of a five-day conference of Heads of Mission and orientation programme for newly appointed envoys of Ghana in Accra.

It was hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP).

Present was the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah; Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs of Senegal, Yassine Fall; the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, and other retired diplomats.

Commendation

The Chief of Staff commended the veteran diplomats for their decades of service to the nation, which impact he said had lifted the image of the nation.

“Your career embodies the core principles and vision we all uphold. It is, therefore, my distinct honour to recognise and pay tribute to your sacrifices.

“Your contributions to international jurisprudence and your enduring dedication to public service remain an inspiration,” he said.

Mr Debrah urged the newly appointed envoys to follow in the path of the veterans by working with integrity, professionalism and dedication to promote Ghana's national interests.

He emphasised the need for them to embrace economic diplomacy, champion African unity and integration, and also protect the welfare of Ghanaians abroad.

For her part, the Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs of Senegal, Mrs Yassine Fall, congratulated the envoys on their appointment and reminded them that as diplomatic agents, they had a responsibility to build bridges to promote relations.

She highlighted some of the challenges on the African continent, describing them as opportunities depending on how they were addressed.

Commitment

Mr Ablakwa praised the new envoys for their commitment, punctuality and professionalism as witnessed during the conference.

He said the conference was aimed at revitalising the nation’s diplomatic spirit and also to sharpen its focus on promoting national interests and values on the global stage.

The minister also celebrated the legacy of the senior statesmen who, he said, had raised the bar of excellence in Ghana's foreign policy and diplomacy.