Former Foreign Minister Hannah Tetteh appointed UN Special Representative for Libya
Former Ghanaian Foreign Minister, Hannah Serwaa Tetteh, has been appointed as the Special Representative for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
The appointment was announced by the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, on Friday, January 24, 2025.
Ms Tetteh succeeds Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal, who served as Special Envoy and Head of UNSMIL until May 2024. The Secretary-General expressed gratitude for Bathily's leadership and also acknowledged Stephanie Koury, the Deputy Special Representative, who led the Mission in an interim capacity as Officer-in-Charge.
Ms Tetteh brings decades of experience at the national, regional, and international levels to her new role. She most recently served as the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa from 2022 to 2024.
Prior to that, she was the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) from 2018 to 2020. Earlier in her career, she served as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi.
Before joining the United Nations, Ms Tetteh served as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2017, during which she was also a member of the National Security Council and the Armed Forces Council. From 2009 to 2013, she was Ghana’s Minister for Trade and Industry, a role that saw her actively participate in the Government's Economic Management Team.
Between 2014 and 2015, Ms Tetteh chaired both the Council of Ministers and the Mediation and Security Council of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), demonstrating her commitment to regional cooperation and conflict resolution.
Earlier in her career, she was a Member of Parliament, first representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Awutu Senya Constituency from 2000 to 2005, and later as MP for Awutu Senya West from 2013 to 2017.
Ms Tetteh has also contributed to international peace and security. Notably, she served as Co-Facilitator in the High-Level Forum for the Revitalisation of the Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.
A legal professional, Ms Tetteh holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Ghana, Legon. She completed her postgraduate studies at the Ghana School of Law and was called to the Bar in 1992.
Fluent in English, Hungarian, and Fante, she brings a unique linguistic and cultural skill set to her roles, enabling her to engage effectively across diverse contexts.
In announcing the appointment, António Guterres highlighted Ms Tetteh’s vast expertise and leadership as assets in addressing the complex challenges in Libya.