President John Dramani Mahama has charged newly appointed envoys to prioritise investment in industrialisation, renewable energy, digital services, agro-processing, infrastructure and tourism in their respective countries of designation.
He also urged them to work towards expanding the country’s export markets, especially for value-added goods such as processed foods, textiles, crafts, and digital services.
“Your success is going to be measured not by ceremony or protocol, but by the scale of investment, trade, and opportunities you help secure for people of Ghana.
“The Reset Agenda is about governance; rebuilding public trust through transparency and accountability,” the President said.
He also urged the diplomats to strategically position the country to attract diasporans to invest and innovate to support the country’s development process.
The President was speaking at the Conference of Heads and Mission orientation programme, and the launch of key performance indicators (KPIs) for newly appointed envoys in Accra yesterday.
It was on the theme: “Harnessing the dividends of diplomacy for Ghana’s Reset Agenda”.
The event was also attended by the Vice-President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II; the Chief Director, MFA, Amb. Kadidja Iddrisu; the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General William Agyapong, and a former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekow Spio-Garbrah, among others.
Advice
President Mahama advised the envoys to manage the country’s missions with integrity, efficiency and professionalism.
“Our citizens abroad must experience fairness and respect for our diplomacy, and its credibility is inseparable from the credibility of our governments. Ghana's diplomacy must continue to stand firmly in Pan-Africanism,” he said.
The President further encouraged the envoys to study the KPIs and endeavour to achieve them, while urging them to also take the orientation programme seriously and learn from the experiences of resource persons lined up for the event.
Launch of KPI
Mr Ablakwa also urged the envoys to secure scholarships and facilitate exchange programmes with foreign institutions to enhance the country's human capital.
He said they must also drive a minimum 10 per cent annual increase in tourist arrivals to the country to create jobs and boost foreign exchange reserves.
Mr Ablakwa called for strict adherence to financial regulations and procurement laws across all missions, and strengthening of the country’s security interests by improving intelligence sharing and collaborations with foreign security agencies.
The minister encouraged them to pursue a strategic transition from rent to infrastructure development, while reactivating Permanent Joint Commissions for Cooperation (PJC) with Ghana’s key partners.
He announced the introduction of new and improved conditions of service to motivate them to deliver on their KPIs.
“On the instruction of President Mahama, we have introduced the National Day Allowance to help cater for National Day celebrations in the various missions.
“We have also enhanced Hardship allowance, plus an insurance package for envoys who accept postings to places considered as hardship areas.
“Postings to hardship locations will now be two years, with the option to seek cross-posting.
In addition, one home leave a year is guaranteed.
“We have enhanced the Education Grant for envoys to cater for the education of their children.
Also, all other allowances have been increased, as well as the vehicle duty allowance restored,” he added.
Building bridges
The Ga Mantse Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, who chaired the occasion, charged the new envoys to primarily build bridges and elevate the country by engaging with the Ghanaian diaspora and local communities in line with the government's transformation agenda.
He urged them to see their appointment as an entrustment of the country’s global brands of integrity, dignity, aspiration, history, and enriched cultural identity, adding that their appointment was through hard work and dedicated service.
“In all you do, seek opportunities to promote Ghanaian products; from our textiles, our traditional symbols, food products, clothing and art,” the Ga Mantse said.
