President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned 18 new envoys as part efforts to align the diplomatic corps with his administration’s Resetting Ghana Agenda.
The commissioning ceremony, which took place at the Presidency in Accra, saw the President administering the oaths of office and secrecy to the 18 new envoys, consisting 12 Ambassadors, three High Commissioners, two Ambassadors in-situ and one Ambassador at Large.
The list includes – Mrs Sabah Zita Benson, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom; Mr Victor Emmanuel Smith, Ambassador to the United States; Madam Mavis Ama Frimpong, Ambassador to France, Mr Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Dr Koma-Steem Jehu Appiah, Ambassador to the Russian Federation.
Others are Mr Kojo Bonsu, Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China; Alhaji Hammed Rashid Tunde Ali, Ambassador to the United Arab Emirate and Professor Ohene Adjei, Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany and Alhaji Abdul Nasiru-Deen, Ambassador to Turkey.
Dr Margaret Miewien Chebere, Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark; Mr Labik Joseph Yaani, Ambassador to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; Nii Amasah Namoale, Ambassador to Federative Republic of Brazil and Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso, High Commissioner to India.
The rest are Mr Samuel Yao Kumah, Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York; Mr Godwin Baletum Amonzem, Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia; Mr. Aikins Abrokwa, Ambassador in-situ, Director of State Protocol, Mr Gustav Kwaku Sefe Dovlo, Ambassador in-situ, Chief of State Protocol and Mrs Patience Kokui Gameli-Kwame, Ambassador-at-Large, Deputy Director General Research Department.
President Mahama, in his address, reminded the new envoys that their appointment was a mark of the confidence reposed in them and a recognition of their years of dedicated service, sterling achievements and exemplary contributions both in the public and private sectors.
He recalled that only four days ago he had the privilege of opening the joint conference of Heads of Mission and Orientation Programme for the newly appointed envoys on the theme: “Harnessing the Dividends of Diplomacy for Ghana’s Reset Agenda”.
He said for the first time in Ghana’s diplomatic practice, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), as a structured framework, was launched to guide the envoys’ work.
President Mahama said the innovation signalled a new era of clarity, accountability and measurable outcomes in their foreign service.
He said these KPIs were not mere bureaucratic tools; stating that they were instruments to ensure that every action taken by their missions abroad contribute directly to advancing Ghana’s national priorities.
“I assure you that I will monitor progress under the framework as part of our commitment to results-oriented diplomacy,” he said.
The President said the Reset Agenda was the administration’s blueprint, a bold vision to restore hope in their people, to rebuild trust and to rekindle the movement towards prosperity.
“It seeks to re-anchor our integrity, transparency and inclusive development governance,” he stated.
He charged the new envoys to be vanguards of Ghana’s economic diplomacy.
He said Ghana’s foreign policy had always been anchored on enduring principles, Pan-Africanism, peaceful co-existence, self-determination and the pursuit of justice and equity in world affairs.
Mr Victor Emmanuel Smith, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, on behalf of his colleagues thanked President Mahama for the honour done them.
“My colleague ambassadors and high commissioners, and indeed all appointees in President Mahama’s government, let us focus on our leader’s vision and chart a course of selfless leadership wherever we may find ourselves,” he said.
“We cannot, and indeed we dare not, fail the good people of Ghana.”
GNA
