Government would soon open seven new missions across three continents to cater for the growing demands of foreign services to Ghanaians abroad and bilateral partners.
The new foreign missions will comprise three missions to be established at the Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago, Budapest in Hungary, as well as the reopening of the Serbian mission located in Belgrade.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference of heads and mission orientation programme for newly appointed envoys in Accra yesterday, indicated that the four consulates would be established in Lisbon, Portugal; Massachusetts in the USA; Dublin in the Republic of Ireland, and Singapore by 2026 as part of recent bilateral agreement between the two countries.
The event, held on the theme: “Harnessing the Dividends of Diplomacy for Ghana’s Reset Agenda,” was also used to launch the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for envoys and missions.
Current Situation
Mr Okudzeto indicated that the country currently had 75 diplomatic missions as it grew from less than 10 under the country’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
“From an initial start of less than 10 under Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, we are now at 75. We have 13 High Commissions, 48 Embassies, and 14 Consulates,” he said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the establishment of the new diplomatic missions was instructed by President John Mahama, and is expected to deepen bilateral engagement and establish permanent footprints in their host countries.
“Next year, we have been charged to open a consulate in Singapore.
We are also opening one in Dublin, Ireland, and an additional one in Massachusetts.
Ghanaians in the US have been crying that New York and Washington cannot continue to represent the 50-state country.
“President Mahama granted us approval only two weeks ago for an additional consulate to be opened in Massachusetts.
We will have a new consulate in Lisbon, Portugal, where we have Air Portugal having a direct flight to and from Ghana. We have growing commerce,” he said.
Confirmation, orientation
Mr Ablakwa intimated that all envoys appointed by the government had been confirmed by the respective host countries; thus, they are expected to soon jet off to commence work at their foreign mission posts.
The minister averred that as part of measures to ensure that the envoys delivered on the KPIs, and well-represented the country’s interests, a five-day mandatory orientation programme would be held for them to learn from experienced personalities.
Ratio
The minister also asserted that the government made the appointments very balanced to ensure representation for non-career and career diplomats.
The appointment ratio, which stood at 45 per cent to 55 per cent in favour of non-career diplomats, he said, represented one of the best ratios in the country’s history.
“We are currently doing 45 per cent to 55 per cent in favour of non-career ambassadors, and that is very impressive. So, 34 non-career ambassadors, 28 career ambassadors.
