President Akufo-Addo (middle) with the newly sworn in Ambassadors and High Commissioners
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has explained that government’s decision to engage the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a way to repair the country’s economy, which has been severely hit by the effects of COVID-19 and the geo-political tension between Russian and Ukraine.
“In our case, we have decided to seek the collaboration with the International Monetary Fund to repair, in the short run, our public finances, which have taken a severe hit in very recent times,” he stated.
The President added that government would continue “to work on the medium to long-term structural changes that are at the heart of our goal of creating a Ghana Beyond Aid, that is building a resilient, robust Ghanaian economy.”
He expressed optimism that with “determination, hard work, unity and the proverbial Ghanaian sense of enterprise, the country’s economic condition will return to normalcy.”
The President made the comments during a swearing in ceremony of 10 Ghanaian envoys at the Jubilee House.
According to him, all countries in the world are working to return to a state of normalcy, following the devastating impact of the pandemic, whose effects had been exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Economies have been plunged into recession, businesses have collapsed, lives and livelihoods have been disrupted, food and fuel prices have escalated dramatically as global and domestic inflation mount,” he noted.
President Akufo-Addo was hopeful that the world would bounce back on the road of growth and prosperity.
Stronger ties
President Akufo-Addo told the Ambassadors and High Commissioners that the twin events of COVID-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine had necessitated the need for stronger ties of cooperation and bonds of friendship around the world.
“No country could address the issues alone; we either succeed together or we perish together. And this is where your work as Ambassadors and High Commissioners will be needed the most,” he stated.
To this end, the President urged the envoys to familiarise themselves with the objectives of the Ghana CARES ‘Obaatampa’ Programme, which set out Ghana’s roadmap towards the strong revitalisation of the economy.
He further advised the envoys to work with the governments of their accreditation to assist in the prosecution of their common agenda in the fight against the scourge of armed conflicts, terrorism and violent extremism, threats of climate change, and the illicit flow of funds from Africa.
“Whilst at it, you also have the onerous responsibility of promoting the image of a country whose reputation amongst the comity of nations continues to be high. You represent a country that, as a result of the commendable conduct of the Ghanaian people, is regarded as one of the most stable on the African continent,” he stressed.
He added: “At your respective duty posts, you must strive to develop cordial working relations with the professional Foreign Service officers you will find at your duty posts. They have invaluable experience and knowledge of the terrain, which should help you work effectively. You will need their assistance, and they will need your guidance and leadership”.
Ambassadors/High Commissioners
The Ambassadors and High Commissioners sworn-in by the President included Mrs. Worwornyo Agyeman, High Commissioner to the Republic of Sierra Leone and Mrs. Florence Buerkie Akonor, High Commissioner to the Federation of Malaysia.
The rest were Mrs. Merene Benyah, Ambassador to the Republic of Italy; Mr. Mohammed Nurudeen Ismaila, Ambassador to the State of Qatar; Ms Mavis Esi Kusorgbor, Ambassador to the Republic of Angola; Mrs Lydia Ofosua Amartey, Ambassador to the State of Israel; Ambassador Emmanuel Kwame Asiedu Antwi, Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation; Mrs Emma Mensah, Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal; Ambassador Ahmed Hassan, Ambassador-at-Large and Mr Henry Tachie-Menson, Ambassador-in-Situ.
“They have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour and in the public service of our country, and are eminently fit to represent Ghana in their respective places of accreditation, which have expressed satisfaction at their appointments. I congratulate each one of you warmly on your well-deserved appointment, and I am confident you will make our nation proud,” the President remarked.
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