The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has held an orientation for Ghana’s Ambassadors and High Commissioners-designate.
The Orientation Programme on Monday, April 12, was carefully designed to nurture and harness the skills of the ambassadors and High Commissioners-designate for the enormous task ahead of them as they “embark on the privileged journey as envoys of the Republic of Ghana abroad.”
Addressing participants at the orientation, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey reminded the envoys of the powers vested in the Ministry “as the lead State agency responsible for the formulation and implementation of Ghana’s Foreign Policy as enshrined in Chapter six (6) of the 1992 Constitution”.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey said, “the realities of the times we live in require that we pursue Economic Diplomacy as a viable tool for transforming the Ghanaian economy by actively seeking markets for Ghanaian goods and services abroad, promoting trade and commercial relations, investments into the country.”
She added, “In this COVID era, Missions will be required to be innovative in pursuit of economic diplomacy. Embarking on extensive market research on products and services is very crucial. Missions need to develop marketing plans indicating the focal areas, the objectives, the strategies employed and the outcome of their activities.”
Ambassadors were urged to adopt innovative and cost-effective strategies in a bid to promote Ghanaian goods and services.
This, according to the Minister, will require inter-sectoral collaboration both home and abroad.
Madam Ayorkor Botchway said, “As host of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Ghana has become the hub for intra-Africa trade. It is, thus, expected that there will be an influx of varied competition that may threaten small and medium enterprises. Nevertheless, we should be motivated by this opportunity to boost trade and encourage the export of finished products using our comparative advantage. You are, therefore, being sent out as Ghana’s foremost official economic agents, entrusted with the task of ensuring that we reap the most out of the world’s largest free trade area.”
Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, advised the Ambassadors who will be representing Ghana in their envoys to ensure they are well vested in issues from various sectors in order to perform their duties effectively.
Participants of the orientation were grateful to the Ministry and expressed their readiness to serve mother Ghana wherever they find themselves.
Story filed by Nathaniel Nartey.
