Africa-Press – Ghana. Cabinet has approved enhanced conditions of service for all Ghana’s diplomats working abroad, President John Dramani Mahama has announced.
Additionally, the Cabinet has approved a waiver of import duties and taxes on one vehicle for Foreign Service officers returning from overseas service.
“But as a caveat, with an engine capacity not exceeding 2.7 liters, so if you are thinking of a V8, I’m sorry,” President Mahama stated in his address during the commissioning of 12 new envoys at the Presidency in Accra.
The newly commissioned envoys are Mrs Theresa Adjei Mensah, Ambassador to the Czech Republic; Dr Felix Kumah Godwin Anebo, Ambassador to Senegal; Mrs Mona Helen Kabuki Quartey, Ambassador to Italy; Mr Kenneth Akibate, Ambassador to Burkina Faso and Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, High Commissioner to Kenya.
The rest are Professor Solomon Korantwi-Barimah, Ambassador to Egypt; Brigadier General Alhassan Abu (rtd), Ambassador to the Ivory Coast; Madam Doris Adzo Denyo Brese, High Commissioner to Australia; Ms Elizabeth Nyantakyi, High Commissioner to Zambia; Mr Edison Mensah Agbenyegah, Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands; and Mr Edward Kwaku Cofie, Ambassador to Algeria.
President Mahama said in line with their prudent budget management and a broader reset agenda, Cabinet had further approved rent ceilings for officers serving in missions abroad.
This, he said, was intended to prevent waste and ensure value for money in all their foreign operations.
“I expect strict adherence to all protocols governing this policy,” the President said.
He noted that financial discipline was integral to national renewal and the nation’s missions must lead by example.
He said as distinguished envoys, they were the living face of Ghana in their host countries; saying “Your conduct must therefore reflect the values we hold dear”.
“Humility, integrity, respect for all, and service to humanity. Diplomacy is ultimately about relationships, building bridges of trust, strengthening cooperation, advocating for mutual understanding, and above all, conducting yourselves in ways that elevate the name and reputation of Ghana.”
He also urged them to pay particular attention to the well-being of Ghanaians living abroad.
Mrs Mona Helen Kabuki Quartey, Ambassador to Italy, on behalf of her colleagues, expressed gratitude to President Mahama for the trust and confidence he had reposed in them.
“Mr President, we are honoured to be part of your winning team, and we assure you of our dedication and commitment to land concrete deliverables during a time when the world economy is charting unknown territories, yet acknowledging the new tailwinds of potential socioeconomic opportunities blowing over Ghana and indeed all of Africa.”
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