By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Oct. 16, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned four career diplomats as Ambassadors and Permanent Representative to serve in Angola, Qatar, Israel and Switzerland, charging them to advance Ghana’s interests and strengthen the country’s position on the global stage.
The newly commissioned envoys are Nana Antwiwaa Dodoo, Ambassador to Angola; Mr Louis Kwame Obeng, Ambassador to Qatar; Mrs Evelyn Korantemaa Ofosu-Amable, Ambassador to Israel; and Mr Jedidiah Reuben Adogla, Permanent Representative to Switzerland.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Accra on Friday, President Mahama congratulated the diplomats on their appointments, saying their selection reflected confidence in their professional competence, experience and judgment.
He said their responsibility went beyond managing official relations and required them to create opportunities for Ghanaians, protect the interests of citizens abroad and ensure that Ghana’s voice remained influential in international decision-making.
President Mahama noted that the global landscape was changing rapidly, with shifting alliances, increasing trade restrictions and growing competition for technology and natural resources.
He said climate change and insecurity continued to exert pressure on economies and communities, making it imperative for Ghana to engage the international community with confidence and a clear understanding of its national interests.
“We must protect our freedom to make decisions, secure access to markets and technology, and build partnerships that strengthen our capacity to produce and compete on the international stage,” President Mahama said.
He said the Government’s Resetting Ghana Agenda sought to strengthen self-reliance in key sectors, including healthcare, natural resource management and development planning.
According to him, restoring macroeconomic stability and fiscal discipline must translate into sustained economic growth and decent employment opportunities for Ghanaians.
“I expect each of you to translate these ambitions into the daily work of your missions. Our effort to restore macroeconomic stability and fiscal discipline must lead to sustained growth and decent jobs,” the President said.
He said the Government’s 24-Hour Economy Policy and the Big Push Infrastructure Programme were central to that vision, alongside social intervention initiatives such as Free Primary Health Care and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares).
President Mahama urged the ambassadors to pursue active economic diplomacy by identifying investors whose interests align with Ghana’s development priorities, facilitating market access for Ghanaian businesses and fostering partnerships in research, skills development and technology transfer.
He noted that Government was committed to retaining greater value from the country’s natural resources through initiatives such as the Ghana Gold Board and efforts to promote local processing of critical minerals, including lithium, bauxite and manganese.
“Your task is to attract the investments and expertise necessary to help turn these resources into productive industries and lasting employment,” he said.
The President further tasked the envoys to monitor and follow through on agreements and investment proposals, identify challenges early and collaborate with relevant institutions to address them promptly.
He stressed the need for efficient and responsive consular services, saying Ghanaian missions abroad must remain accessible and supportive to citizens in need.
President Mahama recalled his declaration of the Ghanaian diaspora as the country’s “17th Region” and urged the diplomats to strengthen ties with Ghanaians living abroad and facilitate their contribution to national development through skills, investments and expertise.
Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, Nana Antwiwaa Dodoo thanked the President for the confidence reposed in them and pledged their commitment to serving Ghana diligently.
She assured the President that they would work tirelessly to mobilise investments and forge strategic partnerships to support flagship government initiatives, including the Big Push Infrastructure Development Programme, the 24-Hour Economy Policy and the MahamaCares initiative.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Iddi Yire