DECEMBER 2019

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 1 DECEMBER 2019

P.O. BOX CT 1406 CANTONMENTS (+233) 540-125-554 / 540-125-555 [email protected] PEDUASE, EASTERN REGION 2 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019 CONTENTS 1. Editorial 04

2. Address by the President of the Republic of Ghana, 06 Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

3. Regional Integration: a. African Continental Free Trade Area: Prospects and Challenges 10 b. Tit Bits from Africa 12

4. Ghana’s Foreign Policy and Diplomatic Relations: a. A History of Ghana’s Foreign Service 14 b. Doha Mission Celebrates its Maiden Ghana Day 21 c. Diaspora Relations: 23 Peer-to-Peer Exchange for Diaspora Desk Officers in Ghana Diplomatic Missions in Africa

5. Economic Diplomacy: a. 2nd Made-in-Ghana Bazaar 24 b. A Field Visit to Companies in the Free Zones Enclave 25 c. Highlights of Activities of Trade, Investment and Cultural 26 Promotion

6. Peace, Security and Consular Matters: 28 Consular Protection: Widening Expectation Gap for Ghana

7. Gender Issues: 32 International Relations and National Development: Women Empowerment and Inclusiveness

8. Free Education Initiative Must Succeed- Some thoughts 36

9. Information Communication Technology: a. Personal Cygiene - Think Prevention! 39 b. Dext Technology Limited-Becoming a Global Leader in STEM 41 Education.

10. Life Corner a. The Realities of a Duty Tour Abroad 43 b. My National Service Experience 44 c. The Better You 45

11. Did you know? 46 Services Provided by the Ministry

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 3 DECEMBER 2019 EDITORIAL Safeguarding national independence, security, What this means is that, even in the pursuit of their sovereignty, political and territorial integrity, as well parochial national interests, States have to interact as the welfare of citizens are considered the primary with other States. Ghana is no exception. Since obligations of the State. These are the cardinal joining the United Nations on 8th March 1957, as elements of national interest - the concerns and the 82nd Member State, Ghana has established aspirations which citizens of a State expect their diplomatic relations with over 170 countries and leaders to fulfill. at the moment maintains sixty-six (66) resident diplomatic and consular Missions dotted around In that sphere, Ghana’s Constitution does not the world. The maintenance of diplomatic presence disappoint as it succinctly recognizes these abroad has helped Ghana to attract political goodwill obligations of the State. Article 35, clause 2 of the and international solidarity, as well as opened up Constitution provides in part that the State “…. shall markets and investments for national development. protect and safeguard the independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ghana, and shall seek the well- As Government pursues a people-centred foreign being of all her citizens.” policy agenda, it is important to also acknowledge the constitutional foundations that place the While national interest is largely national in interests of the country and the citizens at the heart character its execution requires internationalization of foreign policy formulation and implementation. as the nation-State exists within an international Ghana’s Constitution prescribes to Government how environment and interacts with other entities it must conduct its relations with other States. It within the international system. Therefore, contrary enjoins the Government in its dealings with other to the advice given by George Washington in his States to promote and protect the interests of Ghana 1789 Farewell Address to the American nation to and requires the Government to conduct Ghana’s “avoid entangling alliances”, countries now need to international affairs in consonance with the accepted cooperate and engage with one another more than principles of public international law and diplomacy ever. In the 21st century, no country can remain an in a manner consistent with her national interests. island as the borderless world of shared interests and shared problems has created a greater level of Thus, ultimately, the purpose of foreign policy is interdependence among nations. to further the national interests of the State and guided by these prescriptions, the implementation

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION EDITORIAL BOARD 5 Agostinho Neto Rd, Accra, Ghana Mr. Damptey B. Asare - Chairman Mr. Harold Agyeman - Alternate Chair Postal Address: P.O.Box M53, Accra-Ghana Mrs. Audrey Naana Abayena - Member Email: [email protected], [email protected] Mrs. Laila Heward-Mills - Member Telephone number: +233 302 738473 Ms. Reina Baah Sackey - Member Digital Address: GA-057-0036 Ms. Rita Enyonam Dakudzie - Member Ms. Nana Ama Kankam - Member Ms. Ama Anima Anang - Member Views and comments expressed in this Newsletter Ms. Maame Abena Gyamerah - Member do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ministry Ms. Lydia Oppong-Gyimah - Member of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. Mr. George Mills - Member

4 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter EDITORIAL of Ghana’s foreign policy has been focused, in recent Addo at the just-ended General Debate of the 74th years, on the following objectives, among others: Session of the United Nations General Assembly, when i. Promote Ghana’s political and economic interests he brought the broad concerns of the global South to abroad, including international trade and the attention of world leaders, “for us, poverty is a investment; daily reality we live with and feel ….it robs us of the ii. Seek the welfare of Ghanaians and integrate the dignity that should be the inherent right of every Ghanaian diaspora into the national development human being”. agenda; iii. Promote regional integration and a policy of good It is therefore understood that key players of Ghana’s neigh-bourliness; foreign policy community, led by the dynamic iv. Develop and sustain international goodwill and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, support for national development. Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and comprising Ghanaian Ambassadors and Diplomats will continue Under the leadership of the President of Ghana, who, to play key and critical roles in the formulation and within Ghana’s Foreign Policy Establishment, has implementation of a people-centred foreign policy the primary responsibility for shaping the country’s agenda in consonance with the given charge required foreign policy, enormous benefits, including critical to be kept with the Ghanaian people. development assistance, market opportunities and foreign direct investments have been derived from Wishing our Ghana’s engagements with other countries at both cherished readers the bilateral and multilateral levels. a Blessed and There is, however, still a lot more that the foreign Happy New Year. policy goals have to work towards. As was eloquently expressed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 5 DECEMBER 2019

6 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO AT THE 74TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ON THE THEME “GALVANIZING MULTILATERAL EFFORTS FOR POVERTY ERADICATION, QUALITY EDUCATION, CLIMATE ACTION AND INCLUSION” NEW YORK, 25TH SEPTEMBER, 2019

Mr. President, Secretary-General, which, like everything undertaken performance as governments Your Excellencies, by our institution, tries to find a will be judged by how successful form of words that is acceptable to we are in reducing and eventually Ghana presents her compliments all of us. eradicating poverty in our to you Mr. President, worthy countries. representative of our great But, Mr. President, it is probably neighbour, the Federal Republic right to say that those of us, who The responsibility is ours as of Nigeria, and extends hearty live in countries generally referred individual sovereign countries not congratulations on your election to as developing countries, get only to aim at reducing poverty, to preside over this 74th General somewhat bemused by arguments but, actually, to create prosperity Assembly. We extend our and complicated definitions of for all our citizens. We, in Ghana, appreciation to the President of poverty. For us, poverty is a daily certainly are engaged in fighting the 73rd Session for her work, reality that we live with and feel, to eradicate poverty from our and commend the brave theme for far too many of our people country. that has been selected for our are burdened with it, and it robs consideration during this meeting. us of the dignity that should If the world wants to marshal all I note that there is a United Nations’ be the inherent right of every its undoubted energies to support accepted definition of poverty, human being. We know that our this fight, there cannot be a better

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 7 DECEMBER 2019 start than an acknowledgement The young people of the world, the panel chaired by the highly and a consensus among the nations especially the youth of Ghana and respected former South African of the world that, indeed, poverty Africa, have demonstrated their President, Thabo Mbeki, on the anywhere degrades us all, whether ingenuity and innovative prowess, illicit flow of funds from Africa, has in the developed or developing and we need to enlist them fully raised the lid on what many had world. in the fight. It will be an easier always suspected, but did not have battle, of course, if trade practices the figures to support. According Luckily for us, technological were seen to be more equitable to that report, Africa is losing, advances are short-circuiting the and fairer. The question always annually, more than USD50 billion path that leads us out of poverty, remains whether the rich nations through illicit financial outflows. and it is no longer the long and are prepared for an equitable and Collaboration, is certainly, needed tortuous road it used to be. fair-trading order. It appears that amongst the nations of the world they are not, and we have, thus, to to stop this rape of Africa. A mere twenty years ago, mobile continue to fight for a fairer world phones were a rarity that some economic order. The African Continental Free Trade feared would become a developed Area (AfCFTA), which recently world status symbol, and another It should not be lost on anyone came into effect, and whose sign of the technology gap that the minerals, on which the Secretariat Ghana has the honour between the rich and the poor. world depends to move industry of hosting, is a major, collective Today, the poorest person in the and manufacturing, are mostly effort by Africa to get to grips with most inaccessible place in the available in Africa, and yet, we, who mastery of her own development. poorest country has a mobile own these fundamental resources It will be the world’s largest free phone, often a smartphone. by birth right, have remained poor, trade area since the formation whilst our minerals have brought of the World Trade Organisation In many ways, it has transformed vast wealth to nations and peoples (WTO), and will provide the vehicle our lives. In the year 2000, outside our continent. for us to trade better more among in Ghana, there were ninety ourselves; offer an opportunity to thousand (90,000) mobile It is worth pointing out also that exploit our abundant wealth and phone subscribers, today not only do we not get a fair share resources for the benefit of our there are more than forty-one of the wealth once extracted, our peoples; and give us protection million subscriptions. This has lands, our environment, our oceans, in how to deal with other trading led to a remarkable difference are often left devastated by the blocks. in communications within our process, and the competition to country and with the outside gain control over these minerals Mr. President, the fight to eradicate world. A sizeable and growing has also often led to insecurity in poverty is intrinsically linked to number of the population has our countries. quality education, the second been, and is being brought into part of the problems identified the formal banking sector by the I do not seek to blame outsiders for special attention during this mobile phone. for our problems, but, since we General Assembly meeting. are being urged to find multilateral Mr. President, the application of solutions, I believe it is worth Wherever quality education is technology can be the tool to pointing out that unfairness in available, there is usually prosperity. set us on the road to prosperity. the economic order undermines Throughout the ages, education The modernisation of agriculture the fight against poverty. Indeed, has been the most equitable through the application of the flight of capital is continuing source of providing opportunities technology could well turn out to the foreign exploitation of Africa, and has provided the fastest and be the fastest way to make the represented by colonialism most reliable route out of poverty. turnaround that we seek. and imperialism. The report of

8 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019

We, in Ghana, acknowledge that is usually held at the time of year vantage point the astronauts had, we need an educated and skilled when the extremes of nature are which showed clearly the truth of population to be able to compete on display around the world. Maybe the one world that we inhabit. effectively in the world economy. we are being urged to take notice, We are, therefore, taking the and hopefully take practical and We could try to delineate our courageous step of spending on proactive steps to curb the human borders more clearly, we could education a substantial part of our activities that are endangering our make clearer distinctions on the national revenue, indeed a third of planet. basis of colour, race, language and our nation’s budget. creed; that picture tells us the Our world is enriched by the natural path is to be inclusive. Mr. President, in this area also, we diversity of cultures and religions can and should employ technology and beliefs – they add spice to This, in no way, is meant to paper to accelerate the provision of our lives. But there are scientific over the many difficulties we have quality education to as many and mathematical truths that do in our part of the world that we people as possible. not change with space or time, have to work to overcome, or to and these truths we all do well to suggest that, because some parts Very soon, we might not have uphold. of the world are developed and to enter classrooms nor even go prosperous, we can pretend all is to the hallowed grounds of the Now that the scientists have well with us as well. famous universities to gain access spoken on the realities of climate to the knowledge that used to change, I believe it is time to In my part of the world, we do be exclusively available in those direct our energies to what we not argue over what constitutes institutions. can and should do to counteract poverty. We know it, we live with the danger, and stop unnecessary it, feel it and it is a daily reality. It is possible now for our young arguments. people to listen to lectures and As the old saying goes, birds sing watch experiments by famous Nature has been brutal this year not because they have answers scientists and scholars on their in demonstrating to us that our but because they have songs. smartphones and laptops, without climate is changing, and we are setting eyes on, or physically ever probably pushing our world to There might not be any one answer entering an Ivy League university. destruction. The devastation to the theme of this 74th General wreaked by Cyclone Idai, Hurricane Assembly, but the hope is that But, to be able to benefit from Dorian, the extreme summer the discussions point us to the these opportunities made possible temperatures across Europe, surely possibility of a new world, in which by technology, we need to raise provide the evidence, if some were collaboration between the nations our infrastructure to a basic, still needed, that it is time to take and peoples is on such a scale that minimum level. We need to provide action to bring back our world we can dream of and achieve a reliable electricity and internet from the precipice. sustainably prosperous world. services to the people in our towns and villages, and, then, they can This year is the 50th anniversary of I thank you for your attention. truly join in the benefits of the the historic landing on the moon, technology that bring quality which was a seminal event that education to all. We can then celebrated scientific achievement have a realistic expectation of a and humanity’s triumph. The image prosperous future. that has stayed with me, since I was 25 years old, and which still brings Mr. President, the General me true awe and wonder, is that Assembly of the United Nations picture of the earth, taken from the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 9 REGIONAL INTEGRATION THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA:PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

As part of efforts to accelerate Africa’s development According to the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) as well as promote its common identity, the African of the United Nations Economic Commission for Union developed its flagship projects of Agenda Africa (UNECA), the AfCFTA is expected to contribute 2063 to realise an inclusive social and economic to the achievement of the United Nations 2030 development, continental and regional integration, Agenda for Sustainable Development from targets for democratic governance and peace and security, among decent work and economic growth (Goal 8) and the others. These projects are aimed at repositioning promotion of industry (Goal 9), to food security (Goal Africa to become a dominant global player by the year 2) and affordable access to health services (Goal 3). 2063. To realise these goals, it is crucial that Governments across Africa implement measures to accompany Within this context, the African Continental Free AfCFTA, such as the African Union’s Boosting Intra- Trade Area (AfCFTA) was established to increase African Trade Action Plan, but also that the African intra-Africa trade, resolve the many challenges in private sector step up to invest in and take advantage the integration process and enhance competitiveness of the opportunities arising from AfCFTA. among industries as well as create opportunities to increase production, market access and better PROSPECTS OF THE AfCFTA resource distribution. In fact, the AfCFTA can be Following the endorsement of Ghana by the Assembly traced to the Lagos Plan of Action in 1980 and the of Heads of State and Government of the African Abuja Treaty of 1991. Union to host the Secretariat of the AfCFTA, The Ghanaian Envoy interviewed the Association of Ghana In January 2012, 44 Heads of State met in Addis Industries (AGI) and the Ghana National Chamber of Ababa and agreed to establish a Continental Free Commerce and Industry (GNCCI). Both the AGI and Trade Area. Since its establishment, it has received the GNCCI are in agreement with Government on the support across the continent. As at July 2019, 54 many benefits that Africa will derive from effective out of 55 countries had signed the AfCFTA and 27 implementation of the AfCFTA including inter alia: countries had ratified the agreement. Ghana was one • Increased intra-African trade by approximately of the first countries to sign the AfCFTA and ratify the USD35 billion per annum or 52% by 2022. Imports agreement. from outside the continent could decrease by USD 10 billion per year, whereas Agricultural and The AfCFTA will be a single market covering the entire Industrial exports could increase by USD 4 billion African Continent with a total population of 1.2 billion (7%) and USD21 billion (5%) above the baseline and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) respectively (UNECA, 2014); of almost USD 3 trillion. It will also be the world’s • Address the challenge of small fragmented largest Free Trade Area, second only to the World markets in Africa by creating a single continental Trade Organisation (WTO) in terms of the number of market which will lead to economies of scale; member States. • Added value to Africa’s abundant natural

10 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter resources and promote economic diversification The Government of Ghana has launched a “10-point and industrialization; industralisation agenda”, an aggressive programme • Developed regional value chains and facilitate to ensure industrial transformation in all regions of cross border investments in Africa; and the country. Under this agenda, there are a number • Enhanced access to an expanded market for Small of flagship programmes such as the One District and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa on One Factory (1D1F), Strategic Anchor Industries, preferential trade terms. Industrial Parks, Industrial Revitalization programme (Stimulus Package), among others. Ghana has also CHALLENGES OF THE AfCFTA implemented a trade facilitation road map which The Association of Ghana Industries has however, seeks to reduce cost-related burdens and maximise expressed some fears with the implementation of the efficiency with the movement of goods and services AfCFTA. Some of which include: across the country. • Indigenous African companies do not have the capacity to meet the demand of Africa’s combined Ghana’s strategic steps extend to trade-related market size. infrastructure where there has been significant • Large firms may take advantage of economies of expansion of its ports, roads, airports and revamping scale to gain dominance in the production chain of its railway sector. The financial sector has also seen and create monopolies at the expense of Small some vital reforms to improve financial access and and Medium-Sized Enterprises. stimulate local industries, especially the SMEs. • The lack of diversification may result in a mismatch between supply and demand. African Governments have a role to play to ensure • Inefficient transport infrastructure may result in the effective mitigation of the envisaged challenges delays with the movement of goods and services. that may confront the implementation of the AfCFTA. Areas that may require attention include reduction of WHAT GHANA IS ALREADY DOING TO HARNESS interest rate; engaging SMEs to know their specific THE BENEFITS OF THE AFCFTA needs; building capacity through financing and In order to harness the benefits of the AfCFTA, training schemes; access to technology, particularly in countries in the region have to identify specific areas the area of agriculture. of comparative advantage and strategic focus for diversification as well as develop value chains for both Governments should therefore collaborate with the goods and services. In this vein, Ghana is embarking private sector and all stakeholders to facilitate the on some strategic steps to ensure the actualization of implementation of the AfCFTA in order to ensure the AfCFTA. Africa derives maximum benefits from the market that is being created.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 11 DECEMBER 2019 TIT BITS FROM AFRICA

A. 2019 PRESIDENTIAL (INEC), at 3am on 16th February, campaign, refraining from ELECTIONS the election day. The elections elaborate advertisements. Besides, In 2019, over 16 countries held finally took place on 23rd February, to remove any ambiguity, he elections across Africa, including 2019, as rescheduled. According did not embark on any personal Senegal, Nigeria, Benin, Malawi to the results from INEC, the campaign a week to the election, and Mauritius among others. incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari, since his opponent, media mogul, The following is a recap of some retained power by a majority vote. Nabil Koroui, was at the time, elections which made headlines Opposition forerunner, Former incarcerated on charges of money across the continent: Vice President, Atiku Bubakar, laundering and tax fraud. alleging electoral fraud, petitioned the Presidential Elections Tribunal. B. UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL The petition was rejected by the ELECTIONS Tribunal in September 2019 on According to the Electoral Institute grounds of insufficient evidence. for Sustainable Democracy in Africa, 15 African countries will DR Congo head to the polls in 2020, to decide The Democratic Republic of Congo their political leadership for the next set the tone, in January 2019, with government tenure. In West Africa, the swearing in of Felix Tshikdedi. Ghana and its neighbours will be In spite of the election results holding presidential elections. Togo being called into question, the Tunisia will take the lead in April, while country was able to undertake In the North African State of Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and a successful inauguration of the Tunisia, former Law Professor and Ghana have their elections slated president-elect, marking its first a newcomer on the political scene, for the last quarter of the year. Up peaceful transfer of power since Kais Saied, chalked a landslide North and across the Sahel, Egypt independence from Belgium nearly victory as President-elect during and Sudan will be undertaking 60 years ago. the October 2019 polls. Opinion parliamentary elections. For the polls showed a rousing support transitionary government in Sudan, for him among young people, this will set the tone for the 2022 who were particularly impressed presidential elections. Others with his ‘incorruptible reputation’. include, Somalia and Ethiopia in In fact, Prof. Saied, who run the Horn of Africa; Tanzania and as an independent candidate, Burundi in the East; Gabon in the Nigeria acknowledged the undeniable role central part of the continent’s Nigeria, also recovered of the youth in securing his victory. mainland; as well as African Islands: speedily, after the impromptu Known for his conservative social Seychelles, Mauritius and Comoros postponement of its elections views and nicknamed the ‘Robot or Island in the Indian Ocean. for a week by the Independent RoboCop’ for his stern demeanor, National Electoral Commission Kais Saied run an unconventional

12 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019

C. WEST AFRICAN SINGLE CURRENCY D. NOBEL PEACE PRIZE According to a revised road map drawn by the In October 2019, the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize Presidential Taskforce on the ECOWAS Single Currency was awarded to Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Programme during their 5th meeting held in Accra in for his efforts to achieve peace and international February 2018, West African States are expected to cooperation, particularly, his decisive initiative to roll out the single currency in 2020. Member States resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea. are to achieve four primary key convergence criteria Prime Minister Ahmed, who was the sole African including, a single-digit inflation rate at the end of each Laureate this year, was nominated along with 16 year; a fiscal deficit of not more than 4% of the GDP; year old Swedish Climate Activist, Greta Thunberg, a central bank deficit-financing of not more than 10% Brazilian environmentalist and Chief of the Indigenous of the previous year’s tax revenues; and gross external Kayapo People, Raoni Metukire, and the Organisation, reserves that can give import cover for a minimum of Reporters without Borders. three months. Last year, Congolese gynaecologist, Denis Mukwege, Meanwhile, in December 2019, the West African was announced joint laureate with Iranian Human Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) took a Rights Campaigner, Nadia Murad. A year on, the two decision to change the name of their currency from have launched the Global Survivors Fund to provide CFA franc to Eco, effective 2020. It is worth noting reparations for survivors of wartime rape. that the ‘Eco’ had been advertised as the name of the common currency for the Economic Community E. ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW DIPLOMATIC of West African States, (ECOWAS) and was officially RELATIONS BY GHANA endorsed and adopted during the ECOWAS Summit in In February 2019, the Cabinet of the Republic of June 2019. UEMOA’s announcement coincided with Ghana approved the establishment of diplomatic the 56th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority relations with a number of countries with which Ghana of Heads of State and Government that took place currently has no such relations. The 19 countries, in Abuja, Nigeria, on 21st December, 2019 where include, Bhutan, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Dominican Member States were called upon to expedite action Republic, El Salvador, Kirbati, Laos, Liechtenstein, towards the realisation of the common currency. Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Nepal, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and The change is a potential catalyst to realising a truly Vanuatu. Following the approval, Minister for Foreign unified Economic and Monetary Union in the sub- Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor region particularly because the strong financial link Botchwey (MP), in the margins of the 74th Session between francophone West Africa and France had of the United Nations General Assembly, held in New usually been one of the foremost challenges to that York in September 2019, signed Joint Communiques aspiration. Thus, while this move is a step in the right on the establishment of Diplomatic Relations with direction there are still some loose ends to be wary of. 4 of the above-mentioned States. The Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations Office in New France will no longer sit on the board of the Monetary York has been requested by the Ministry to sign joint Union, nor will it retain 50% of the Union’s reserves in communiques with the remaining 15 States. its national treasury. Nevertheless, the new currency will remain pegged to the Euro. Some analysts Ghana is hopeful that the expansion of its global argue that this ‘arrangement guarantees unlimited diplomatic relations will enable it to explore new areas convertibility of the Eco into euros and facilitates inter- of cooperation and greater opportunities to pursue zone transfers’. Still, this begs the following questions: the interest of the people of Ghana. what will that mean for Anglophone member States who eventually adopt the Eco? Are UEMOA States prepared to give up the relative fiscal stability they derive from having their currency pegged?

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 13 GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY AND DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

A HISTORY OF GHANA’S FOREIGN SERVICE

INTRODUCTION interactions with the international I should start by stating the obvious community, while preserving its that the Foreign Service is made up sovereignty and making unique of people, whose sole job is to help contributions to its neighbouring to formulate and implement foreign countries and to the world. Through policy. multilateral diplomacy at the United Nations, Ghana has participated in Foreign policy can be defined as a the maintenance of global peace and set of political goals that seek to security. On the African continent, outline how a particular country will Ghana has been an active participant interact with the other countries of in regional platforms and in initiatives the world. Indeed, it is public policy to promote the socio-economic and which is applicable to the territorial political development of African By: borders outside the confines of the countries. Ambassador political system or State, thus to the Kwabena Baah-Duodu international system. Recent efforts to strengthen the Retired Foreign Service country’s international relations have Officer Foreign policies are designed to focused on: accelerating economic promote and protect a country’s and social integration with regional national interests, which include and sub-regional States; promoting national security, ideological goals, international peace and sustainable the welfare of a country’s citizens and development; and leveraging economic economic prosperity. Globally, every and technological opportunities for sovereign country has its own foreign sustainable development. policies that dictate how the country conducts her affairs with the outside A GHANA FOREIGN SERVICE? world to reflect her interest. The Ghana Foreign Service is part of the Ghana Civil Service, and not For example, the foreign policy thrust separated from the Ghana Civil of Ghana since independence has Service. At independence, it would been to maximise the benefits of its appear that there was an intention to

14 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019 create a Foreign Service of Ghana honorary consulates are established the Legislative Assembly on 10th as one of the public services of to complement the work of July, 1953. He stated that; the nation. The mere fact that the former in the promotion of the rules governing the Ministry investment, trade and tourism as “...in the very early days of the of Foreign Affairs and Regional well as the discharge of consular Christian era, long before England Integration’s (MFARI) personnel functions in areas with significant had united into a nation, our and finances were titled “Foreign Ghanaian communities. ancestors had attained a great Service Regulations” and “Foreign empire, which lasted until the Service Accounting Instructions”, The name of the Ministry has eleventh century, when it fell respectively, were enough undergone various changes in before the attacks of the Moors indication of the intention of the Ghana’s recent history. Its current of the North. At its height, that policy makers at that time, to name, Ministry of Foreign Affairs empire stretched from Timbuktu create a Foreign Service. However, and Regional Integration, was to Bamako, and even as far as to in 1974, the Ghana Government so designated to emphasise the the Atlantic. It is said that even Commission on the Structures importance of regional integration lawyers and scholars were much and Procedures of the Ghana as a foreign policy objective. respected in that empire and that Civil Service (GCS) dismissed I need to point out that although the inhabitants of Ghana wore the proposal for the creation of a the Ghana Foreign Service is garments of wool, cotton, silk and Ghana Foreign Service. technically and legally part of the velvet. There was trade in copper, Ghana Civil Service, it is nonetheless gold and textile fabrics, and jewels It was suggested at the time peculiar and specialised, and has and weapons of gold and silver that the decision to discount the different modus operandi, requiring were carried. Thus, may we take creation of the Foreign Service was thus a peculiar setup to cope pride in the name of Ghana, not informed by a lack of appreciation with its multifarious functions. out of romanticism, but as an of the distinctive character of the Operating as it does primarily in the inspiration for the future. It is right functions of the Ministry of Foreign international arena, it has perforce and proper that we should know Affairs and the need, therefore, to conform to some international about our past. For just as the to suitably prepare and equip its practices and procedures. future moves from the present so personnel with the discipline and the present has emerged from the competence that should enable HISTORICAL BACKGROUND past. them operate effectively in the The Gold Coast, as it was field of international relations and called, became independent “…our battles shall be against old diplomacy. Over the years profound of British colonial rule on 6th ideas that keep men trammelled political, economic, scientific and March, 1957. This was after in their own greed; against the technological changes worldwide one hundred and three years of crass stupidities that breed have significantly altered the colonial administration, when it is hatred, fear and inhumanity. The conduct of international relations. calculated from the date of signing heroes of our future will be those, The Bond of 1844 between the who can lead our people out of For our purposes, the Ministry then British Imperial Government the stifling fog of disintegration of Foreign Affairs and Regional and some chiefs and elders of the through serfdom, into the valley Integration, which is part of Gold Coast colony. On becoming of light, where purpose, endeavour the Ghana Civil Service, and independent, the Gold Coast and determination will create its diplomatic missions abroad assumed the name of Ghana. It is that brotherhood, which Christ constitute the Ghana Foreign pertinent here to recall the words proclaimed two thousand years Service. They are charged with the of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, then ago, and about which so much is control, direction and coordination Leader of Government Business, said, but so little done” . of Ghana’s external relations. In when he tabled the motion for the addition to diplomatic missions, independence of the country at

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 15 DECEMBER 2019

Thus, choosing the name Ghana Nkrumah earnestly believed was for a mission to be fulfilled. in a central role for Ghana in international affairs. Undoubtedly, The need for a Ghana Foreign from the beginning, his personality Service became obvious when dominated Ghana’s external the country started to make relations because he felt that he preparations for its independence. had a specific mission for Africa As you know, it would have been which could be fully realised only absurd if we were to leave the under his control at the helm. handling of the country’s foreign relations with our former colonial Nkrumah’s vision of African unity, master. together with the strategies he employed to fulfil his foreign policy Just before the Gold Coast became objectives, caused some amount of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah resentment and bitterness among persuaded the last Governor some of his contemporaries, such General, Sir Charles Noble Arden- as Felix Houphouet-Boigny of Ivory Clarke, to set up a small bureau in Coast, Sylvanus Olympio of Togo, his office, christened the Bureau for and Julius Nyerere of Tanzania. External Affairs which later became the Ministry of External Affairs. The Group of Ten (G 10) Thereafter, the Bureau commenced It was essential for a corps of relations also had to be taken into the recruitment of those officers, Ghanaian officers to be quickly put account. This is why no non-citizen who were to become the first together and given the necessary is ever recruited into any country’s Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) of training – however rudimentary- diplomatic service. The exception the country. for this totally new enterprise of was during the early years of diplomacy for which no practiced the Provisional National Defence The first Prime Minister, Dr. Kwame veterans were available. Unlike the Council (PNDC), when one Mr. Nkrumah had already set out the Home Ministries, where expatriate Banki F. Banki, a Gambian radical, orientation and broad outlines of officials could be retained as useful was recruited into the service and Ghana’s foreign policy in his writings bridges during the crucial post- posted to our Mission in Luanda, and speeches over the years. independence transitional period, Angola, as Counsellor. He was later such a role could not be envisaged withdrawn after complaints from This policy was to be a radical for expatriates in the diplomatic the career service. departure from the country’s service, Ghana’s direct window to colonial legacy, with its in-built the outside world. The first batch of trainees, the bias towards the capitalist West, so-called Group of Ten, recruited to one of free and open-minded It would also not have been in September 1955 were drawn intercourse with all countries compatible with Nkrumah’s long- from the Colonial Civil Service and whatever their political and held conviction, articulated in many were mainly University graduates ideological inclinations, and the forms and on countless occasions holding “European appointments”, vigorous promotion of African that “the black man is capable of i.e. senior posts previously reserved independence and unity on a managing his own affairs” and for (mainly white) expatriates. continental scale. Herein lay the where better to demonstrate this After brief introductory and seeds of non-alignment and than in Ghana’s shop-window. orientation courses at the London African Unity (OAU), which have Security and confidentiality of School of Economics and the British been for a long time the pillars of information dictated by the very Foreign Office, they were sent out Ghana’s Foreign policy. nature of the conduct of foreign on attachment to British Embassies

16 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019 for practical training. Given their July, 2018, honoured Ghana’s first The late Ambassador Alex Quaison- background and experience, they 10 Foreign Service Officers at an Sackey, who served as the first were adjudged ready by late 1956 event at the Jubilee House. The 10 black African to be elected to assume charge of the Liaison Officers, 8 of whom are deceased, President of the United Nations Offices (Embassies-to-be) already are Harry Reginald Amonoo, General Assembly (UNGA), at its established in London, Paris, and Frederick Sigfried Arkhurst, Kwaku 19th Session, from 1964-1965, Washington DC/New York, and to Baprui Asante, Frank Edmund is credited with having introduced strengthen the embryonic Ministry Boateng, Kenneth Kweku Sinaman the notion of “consensus”, which of Foreign Affairs in Accra. Dadzie, Abraham Benjamin Baah has since become a favourite word, Kofi, Alexander Quaison-Sackey, especially in multilateral diplomacy. A second batch of three was Henry Van Hien Sekyi, Richard In 1960, the resolute determination recruited in September 1956 as Maximilian Akwei, and Ebenezer of African diplomats, under the fresh graduates from the University Moses Debrah. leadership of Dr. Alex Quaison– of Ghana, Legon, with no working Sackey, Ghana’s Ambassador and experience. Their training consisted These 10 men had the onerous Permanent Representative to the of an academic year’s course in responsibility of advancing and UN and Chairman of the Committee International Relations and French promoting the image of a country on Information from Non-Self- at Oxford University, followed by which had recently gained Governing Territories manifested a three-month “practical” course independence and was leading the in various activities by African in French Language and Civilisation struggle for liberation of Africa countries. For instance, supported at the Poitiers University Language from colonialism and imperialism. by Asia and Latin America, the Institute, France, where they had to As stated by the President, “they African Group succeeded in getting live en pension with French families were the most visible symbol of our the UNGA to adopt Resolution for their total immersion in the country. Prior to their selection, they 15140 (XV) and 15141 (XV) on language. were subjected to the most rigorous the Declaration on the Granting of of selection procedures, which Independence to Colonial Countries French was considered a premier ensured that their appointments and Peoples. This in no small way diplomatic language at the time, were based wholly on individual helped in galvanising support for and any diplomat worth his or her merits, and not on ethnic, religious the struggle against colonialism in salt was expected to have a working or political affiliations,” Africa. knowledge of it. Unlike their seniors, their contact with the British They served Ghana with dis- The late Ambassador Ken Dadzie’s Foreign Office was perfunctory, tinction and dedication, and left name continues to reverberate limited as it was to a week during so many identifiable diplomatic within the circles of the United vacation from Oxford. In any case achievements and landmarks, that Nations Conference on Trade and after 6th March, 1957, Ghanaians have served to enhance the image Development (UNCTAD) from ceased to be British subjects of our country. where he, if fate had been kind (citizens) and could no longer be to Ghana earlier, could have risen let into the inner recesses of the Through the achievements of these beyond being the first African “hallowed” cloisters of the British great men, Ghana has become well- Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Foreign Office. They, therefore, had known and well-respected all over perhaps, to becoming the overall their practical training in diplomatic the world. Successive Ghanaian head of the United Nations, practice and procedure at the diplomats, as a result, have been even earlier than our illustrious Ghana High Commission in London. inspired to enhance further our compatriot, Kofi Annan. country’s position amongst the It may be recalled that the President comity of nations. Let’s take a Having opened Ghana’s Diplomatic of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa cursory look at their careers. Mission in Moscow in 1960, the Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday, 4th late Ambassador F.E. Boaten worked

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 17 DECEMBER 2019 at the Foreign Ministry between The late Ambassador Amonoo, Representative of Ghana to the 1962 through to 1966, when remembered for the role he UN, became the Chairman of he was elected the Secretary- played as Secretary to the Aburi the International Civil Service General of the “Accra Assembly”, “Conference on Nigeria and Biafra” Commission and, thereafter, which gave birth to a peace in 1967, became a distinguished became the Commonwealth initiative known internationally as representative of Ghana, especially representative for the training of the “World Without the Bomb”. during the time he served in Ethiopia prospective young diplomats for He subsequently served at the where he became Chairman South Africa. UN in the capacity of Permanent of the Organisation of African Representative of Ghana, and Unity’s Committee on Refugees; Ambassador E.M. Debrah rose was named by the UN as one Member of the OAU Restructuring to be Secretary to the Cabinet of the 27 Eminent Personalities Committee; and Vice-Dean of the and Head of the Civil Service. He on Disarmament, with his name Diplomatic Corps. trained a lot of Commonwealth featured in the “Who is Who” citizens in Namibia, Zimbabwe publication of that period. The late Ambassador Henry Van and the Caribbean to become Hieu Sekyi was the quintessential diplomats. He was, until recently, a The late Ambassador Fred scholar, with an exceptional familiar face in this Ministry, where Arkhurst, who joined the Foreign musical talent. As an astute he had operated as a “Consultant- Service of Ghana, after having diplomat, he gave distinguished In-Residence”. As Ghana’s first obtained a First Class in Economics service at key bilateral Diplomatic Ambassador to Ethiopia, USA, in Scotland, subsequently served Missions of Ghana in Australia, Italy Australia and the United Kingdom, at the United Nations Economic and the United Kingdom. Popularly a Conference Room has been Commission for Africa (UNECA), referred to as “Sir Henry”, he was named after him in the new Foreign then headed by another eminent one of the Foreign Service Officers Ministry building. Ghanaian, Dr. Robert Kweku Atta who accompanied our first Gardiner, regarded easily as the President, Kwame Nkrumah, on THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE official with the record of longest his ill-fated trip to Hanoi in 1966. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS service at UNECA. Ambassador In retirement, he became the first The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arkhurst devoted his life, after Ambassador-In-Residence at the was formally established in 1957, retiring from the Ghana Foreign Legon Centre for International with Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, then Service, naturally to the writing Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD). leader of Government Business, as of books and other engagements the first Foreign Minister. He held within academia. The late Ambassador Abraham this position from 1957 to early Benjamin Baah Kofi is remembered 1958 when apparently from the For the late Ambassador K.B. Asante, for the key assignments he played, sheer weight of his responsibilities, his diplomatic life was centred on especially on the eve of the he thought it prudent to divest multilateral engagements, having formation of the OAU, when he himself of that extra burden, served mostly in Europe, where was sent, in the company of the and appointed Mr. Kojo Botsio he focused on the latter’s relations late George Padmore and the late to assume the Foreign Affairs with Africa, the Caribbean and the Mr. Ako-Adjei, Foreign Minister, to portfolio. Mr. Botsio, however, Pacific, and on the European-based confer with several African Heads had only a brief stay initially at the UN Institutions. On his return to of States, on the issue. He also Foreign Ministry, being assigned to Ghana, he became a public figure, accomplished, with distinction, his the Ministry of Education in 1959, who was eager to engage, publish, assigned task of opening a number to be succeeded by Dr. Ako Adjei, inspire and promote social, political, of Ghana’s Diplomatic Missions. who stayed until 1962. academic, media and other related Ambassador Richard Maximilian causes. Akwei, beyond his distinguished Mr. Botsio assumed the Foreign service as the fourth Permanent Affairs portfolio once more from

18 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019

African policy under his direct control at the Flagstaff House and accordingly set up an autonomous African Affairs Secretariat literally under his nose, but staffed, nonetheless, with personnel mainly from the Foreign Ministry, of which the Secretariat was technically a part.

A state of healthy and friendly rivalry developed between them, which enhanced in the end the overall enrichment and improvement of the Foreign Service, from the 1963 to 1965. Both Mr. Botsio they could be called upon at any expertise in African affairs, which and Dr. Ako-Adjei are said to have time to undertake assignments not the Secretariat developed. The brought new life and confidence to normally in their given schedules. Secretariat became the President’s the Ministry, for, for the first time Mandate “favourite son” and was showered the Ministry had Ministers it could with all the means that would call its own, sitting in the Ministry On 6th March, 1957, when Ghana facilitate its mission. It did not, for and to whom officers could relate became independent, Dr. Kwame instance have to queue for funds directly, as different from a non- Nkrumah made a historic foreign from the normal sources for its resident one in far-away Flagstaff policy pronouncement. The operations, which were invariably House issuing what one could only concept of free, proud, confident urgent. see as cold impersonal directives. Africa was to dominate the foreign policy of Ghana. The independent By far the biggest, most Nkrumah’s long arm was said to be State of Ghana had at its disposal, complicated and expensive nonetheless ever present, “tele- competent diplomats who had assignment undertaken by the guiding” the Ministry`s affairs – been selected and trained in 1955 Secretariat was Ghana’s deep something not unusual with Heads to implement her foreign policy. involvement in the Congo crisis of Government in the domain of in 1960, when Ghanaian troops foreign relations. Dr. Nkrumah’s programme for the were despatched there as the quickest possible emancipation largest contingent of a United With respect to career officers, of colonised Africa was a passion, Nations peace-keeping and peace Mr. A.L. Adu, one of the first and his dedication to the unity of enforcement force. The whole U.N. Ghanaians to serve in the Senior emancipated Africa an obsession. operation was at the instance of Administrative Class in the Gold For the quick implementation of Nkrumah, whose objective was to Coast Civil Service, was appointed these objectives, he considered protect the legitimate government, the Permanent Secretary, aided by the Foreign Ministry wanting, led by Patrice Lumumba, and halt Principal Assistant Secretaries who hidebound as it was with the the young country’s headlong headed the various departments. civil service rules or what some stride into anarchy. He later became the first called “colonial mentality” and its Deputy Secretary General of the administrative foot-dragging, in A Ghanaian civilian technical Commonwealth. addition to its suspect loyalty. assistance team was also despatched to help install a viable Those days, senior officers held He, therefore, found it necessary administration. That the operation floating schedules, in the sense that to bring the prosecution of his ended ignominiously and even

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 19 DECEMBER 2019 disastrously for Ghana, with the the decline in Ghana’s centrality separate identity of the Foreign massacre of forty of our soldiers and influence in global and African Service should be recognised and by a mutinous Congolese army politics. maintained if it were to perform can certainly not be blamed on any its peculiar functions properly. bungling by the Secretariat but The decline in international It, however, did not find that rather squarely on the Western influence had been partly “independence” was essential for powers, especially Belgium, the precipitated by a perceptible its proper functioning, once its immediate past colonial authority, and devastating stagnation of peculiar and separate identity was for their unabashed duplicity and the national economy, which granted. downright sabotage. some analysts have blamed on Nkrumah’s preoccupation with I, on the other hand, believe that During Nkrumah’s time the Service foreign relations. we need a separate Foreign Service assisted President Nkrumah to outside the Civil Service. forge far-flung alliances and made POST-NKRUMAH economic sacrifices to maintain GOVERNMENTS The world in which our officers, them with what was perceived Successive governments of Ghana who work abroad operate today as progressive countries, in the have, nonetheless, embraced is a kaleidoscope of opportunities language of the time. the principles of foreign policy and challenges, including violent as initiated by Nkrumah. The non-state actors; global issues Despite the forged close political execution of these principles has such as women’s empowerment, ties, however, Ghana’s economy differed from one administration energy and climate change; remained heavily dependent to another due to, in the words negotiation of trade agreements on the markets and the far of Henry Kissinger, “experiences and managing financial crises. It is superior financial resources of which form the leaders in their rise a world that is also defined by the the capitalist world. The country to eminence”. According to him, “a need to recognize the overriding could, therefore, not break away leader’s vision, personal aspirations, reality of simultaneity: the political, from their influence, despite her temperament, prejudices, force of economic, military, cultural, radical outlook and ideological personality, ideological persuasion, humanitarian and media spheres pretensions. Consequently, Ghana moral orientation and perception have merged. Our policies must, had to seek the middle ground of world issues tend to have a therefore, be as multifaceted as that would enable her pursue her strong bearing on the manner in the challenges we face. political agenda without sacrificing which these principles are put into her economic interests. The NAM action”. A separate Service will ensure that provided just the vehicle needed to all actions relating to the Service be able to strike the right balance CONCLUSION are expedited and not constrained between her political and economic The question of whether the by the strictures of the Home interests. Foreign Service should maintain a Service. separate identity and even perhaps After Nkrumah’s overthrow in be independent with its own It is gratifying to note that Ghana’s February 1966, the African Affairs Governing Board, albeit as part Medium-Term Plan (2018-2021) Secretariat was incorporated into of the Civil Service on the lines envisages the establishment of a the Ministry. of the Judicial Service, has been separate Foreign Service outside under discussion for a long time. the Civil Service for Ghana. While Nkrumah’s foreign policy was The E.K. Okoh Commission on the largely successful, it had its failures Structure and Procedures of the as well. Some of his policies, for Ghana Civil Service set up in 1974 example, marred relations with examined the issue thoroughly, our neighbours, especially, Togo. and in its wisdom concluded His fall in 1966, however, signalled without equivocation that the

20 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019 DOHA MISSION CELEBRATES ITS MAIDEN GHANA DAY

H. E. Mr. Emmanuel Enos with the Minister for Justice of the State of Qatar, H. E. Dr. Issa Bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, the Minister for Municipality and Environment of the State of Qatar, H. E. Mr. Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Turki Al Subaie, the Director of Protocol, Ambassador Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro and the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

In view of the growing relations between the Republic of Ghana and the Gulf States, Ghana increased its presence in the region with the opening of three (3) Embassies namely: the Kuwait, Doha and the Abu Dhabi Missions.

The Doha Mission was officially inaugurated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (MP), in May 2018. Ambassador Emmanuel Enos and spouse with some members of the Ghanaian community in Doha The Mission held its first Natinoal Day celebration on 7th March, 2019 to commemorate the 62nd Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Ghana.The very colourful event took place at the prestigious Marsa Malaz Kempinski Hotel at the Pearl of Doha with over 250 guests in attendance. Among the respected dignitaries that graced the occasion were His Excellency the Minister for Justice of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, the Minister for Municipality and Environment, H. E. Mr. Emmanuel Enos and members of the Diplomatic Corps Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al Subaie, and

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 21 DECEMBER 2019 the Director of the Department Guests were treated to the rich host State, the event afforded the of Protocol of the host Ministry traditional dances of Kpalongo, platform to further consolidate the of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Takai, Abgadza and Kete and growing bilateral relations between Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro as were also served with sumptuous Ghana and Qatar. well as the Diplomatic Corps and Ghanaian dishes. Ghanaians living in the State of Qatar. The celebration provided a rare opportunity to the Ghanaian Guests to the event were community to renew their sense welcomed with rich cultural display of belonging and also receive and were adorned with Kente poignant updates on the state of stoles. the Ghanaian economy. To our

H. E. Mr. Emmanuel Enos, the Minister for Justice of the State of Qatar, H. E. Dr. Issa Bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, the Minister for Municipality and Environment of the State of Qatar, H. E. Mr. Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Turki Al Leaders of the Ghanaian community in Doha, Dr. David Nkansah, Mr. Subaie and the Director of Protocol, Ambassador Ibrahim Stephen Adjei and other members of the community Yousif Abdullah Fakhro.

Ambassador Emmanuel Enos and spouse with members of the Ghanaian Cultural Troop in Doha and some members of the Dip- lomatic Corps.

22 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DIASPORA RELATIONS

PEER-TO-PEER EXCHANGE FOR DIASPORA DESK OFFICERS IN GHANAIAN DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN AFRICA 18TH - 19TH NOVEMBER 2019, NAIROBI, KENYA.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in collaboration with GIZ organised a Peer-to-Peer Exchange Training Programme for Diaspora Desk Officers in Ghana Diplomatic Missions in Africa at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, from 18th to 19 th November, 2019.

The theme for the two-day workshop was “Engaging the countries of origin and Ghana Also, present at the event were Diaspora in National Development was no exception. Continuing, 26 out of the 27 invited Diaspora of Ghana”. The purpose of the she indicated that the training Desk Officers in Ghana’s Missions training programme was to enhance was taking place at an opportune in Africa, representatives from the capacity of the Diaspora Desk time as it seeks innovative ways of the Diaspora Affairs Office at Officers in their engagement engaging the Ghanaian Diaspora the Presidency and Center of with Ghanaian Diaspora at their to contribute towards national Migration Studies, University of respective location for the development. Ghana as well as officials from GIZ, sustainable development of Ghana. Ghana and Kenya offices.

The event was opened by Ghana’s High Commissioner to Kenya, H. E. Mrs. Francisca Ashietey-Odunton. In her remarks, H.E Mrs. Ashietey- Odunton stated that governments around the world increasingly recognize the value that Diaspora populations bring to development efforts and are therefore actively seeking ways to utilize their human capital and financial resources for the development of their various

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 23 ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY

2ND MADE-IN-GHANA BAZAAR

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diplomatic Missions, boost exports, create jobs and strengthen Ghana’s Regional Integration as part of its currency through foreign exchange earnings using the tools of economic mandate to promote the economic diplomacy. advancement of the country using the tool of economic diplomacy, organized She emphasised that the Ministry was working earnestly to fulfill its the 2nd Made-in-Ghana Bazaar under mandate which include promoting the interest of Ghana abroad through, the theme “Promoting Made-in-Ghana trade, investments and tourism among others. Products Abroad”. The 2nd Made-in-Ghana Bazaar attracted over 200 exhibitors, members The programme was held from 26th of the Diplomatic Corps, Departments and Agencies as well as potential to 30th July 2019, and was designed investors. to harness efforts of local industries to obtain global recognition through Diplomatic Missions abroad.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Bazaar, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (MP) said, the exhibition was to provide a platform to build links with various

24 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019 A FIELD VISIT TO COMPANIES IN THE FREE ZONES ENCLAVE The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The Director for the Economic Trade and Investment Bureau Regional Integration intensified efforts (ECITB), Ms. Khadija Iddrisu, during an interactive session with to promote Economic Diplomacy by staff of the two companies visited, indicated that the Ministry organising a field visit for its officers was working to support the country’s efforts at diversifying and to some manufacturing companies to increasing export by actively seeking markets for “Made-in- acquire firsthand information about their Ghana” products abroad. operations.

The field visit took place on Friday 26th April 2019, and was organised in conjunction with the Ghana Free Zones Authority, one of the Ministry’s stakeholders in promoting economic diplomacy.

The visit gave officers insight into the processes of manufacturing some “Made- in-Ghana” products. The companies visited were the Niche Cocoa Confectionery Limited and Ghana Specialty Fats Industries both located within the Tema Export Processing Zone (EPZ).

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 25 DECEMBER 2019 HIGHLIGHTS OF ACTIVITES OF TRADE, INVESTMENT AND CULTURAL PROMOTION -GHANA HIGH COMMISSION, CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA.

Over the years, the Ghana High Commission in Canberra has used festivals and trade platforms such as the “National Multicultural Festival”, “Africa in the Park”, “Africa Trade and Cultural EXPO”, among others, to provide the Australian public the opportunity to taste, see and feel Ghana. During these events the Mission takes the opportunity to inform visitors on available investment opportunities in Ghana, show case made-in-Ghana goods and also promote tourism. With the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Africa is ready for business and such platforms provide new markets to promote Ghanaian and African H.E. Edwin N. Adjei, High Commissioner of Ghana to Australia, in a group photograph with the Ghana delegation at the Africa Down Under Mining Conference products.

Promoting Ghana at the 2019 National Multicultural Festival The Ghana stand at the Africa in the Park Festival 2019

26 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019

Promoting Ghana at the 2019 National Multicultural Festival

Ghanaian exhibits at the Windows To The World Expo

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 27 PEACE, SECURITY AND CONSULAR MATTERS

CONSULAR PROTECTION: THE WIDENING EXPECTATION GAP FOR GHANA

You would imagine that, as a citizen the laws of the host country. Consular of any country, it is a reasonable protection differs from diplomatic expectation to hold that your country protection in that the State does not would come through for you at all assert its own right but demands redress times of your need in a foreign land, for a violation of international law. right? Well….not quite. The answer Furthermore, the conditions applying to lies anywhere in a wide spectrum of the exercise of consular protection are opinion, some even in the realm of less strict than in the case of diplomatic borderline absurdity, you would say. protection. But the underpinnings of every opinion in the spectrum are a set of realities In the performance of their diplomatic that are shaped from personal histories and consular functions, countries all and circumstances. Even where there over the world have a duty to protect are laws and rules to regulate this and seek the welfare of their citizens By: expectation, you would find in practice at all times. Over the years, this Audrey Naana Abayena, that it is not always the case that duty has become part of customary FSO A1, LLB., MA, LLM there is the meeting of minds between international law and was eventually (Director) consular service givers and receivers. codified into the Vienna Convention on Legal & Consular Bureau Consular Relations (VCCR) of 1963. In international law, consular protection There are also two optional protocols, is defined as the State protecting the which came into force on 19th March, rights of its citizens in a foreign country. 1967. Prior to that, consular law It refers to the help a country provides existed as practices that arose out of to its citizens who have travelled to bilateral agreements between States. or live abroad and are in need of such Compared with diplomatic law, the help; it enables a State to defend the state of customary international law rights of its citizens abroad. This must as it pertained to consular matters was be exercised within the confines of more fragmented.

28 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019

The VCCR describes the capacities of a similar kind, and extent of State consular protection establishment, operation, and performing certain functions from one country to another. termination of consular missions as of an administrative nature; well as the functions, privileges, and (d) Safeguarding the interests of In the case of Ghana, the execution immunities pertaining to consular nationals, both individuals of consular duties has largely been officials and other individuals at a and bodies corporate, of the on the basis of the VCCR. There is no consular post. About 180 States sending State in cases of evidence pointing to the execution are parties to the VCCR as of 13th succession mortis causa in the of any bilateral treaty on consular October, 2019 and Ghana became territory of the receiving State; protection or a consular treaty as it State party upon the deposit of (e) Subject to the judicial practices is known within international law. its instrument of ratification on 4th and procedures pertaining October, 1963. The VCCR further in the receiving State, On the bedrock of the VCCR, codifies key principles and practices representing or arranging Ghanaian diplomatic missions that are now widely accepted, appropriate representation for and consular posts abroad would such as persona non grata, the nationals of the sending State serve citizens who require consular inviolability of consular premises, before the tribunals and other services such as the issuance the inviolability of communications, authorities of the receiving of passports, emergency travel documents and archives as well as State, for the purpose of documents, assistance in an arrest the consular bag. obtaining, in accordance with or detention, being a victim of the laws and regulations of crime, serious accident or injury, Article 5 of the VCCR outlines the the receiving State, provisional relief and repatriation in case of an consular functions that may be measures for the preservation emergency or in a state of destitute undertaken by a consular post, or of the rights and interests and death. The Ministry of Foreign a diplomatic mission in the case of these nationals, where, Affairs and Regional Integration has where the country does not have because of absence or any been performing these functions a consular post in the host State. other reason, such nationals in diverse ways over the years The relevant portions include, inter are unable at the proper time throughout the world where alia, within the limits permitted to assume the defence of their Ghana has presence through its by international law and with due rights and interests; missions abroad including countries regard for the laws and regulations (f) Performing any other functions of concurrent accreditation. In of the host State: entrusted to a consular post by recent times, however, the tension the sending State which are and complexities surrounding (a) Protecting in the receiving State not prohibited by the laws and contemporary migration have the interests of the sending regulations of the receiving stretched the clearly defined State and of its nationals, State or to which no objection functions under VCCR into both individuals and bodies is taken by the receiving State unchartered territory. This has been corporate; or which are referred to in evident in the increased number of (b) Issuing passports and travel the international agreements cases of human trafficking of girls/ documents to nationals of in force between the sending women for prostitution and labour, the sending State, and visas State and the receiving State. particularly in the Gulf Region, or appropriate documents to and copious instances involving persons wishing to travel to The last provision above provides Ghanaians seeking greener pastures the sending State; the opportunity to expand the and undertaking perilous adventures (c) Helping and assisting nationals, scope of the consular functions of through the desert to Libya and the both individuals and bodies the sending State with deference to Mediterranean to reach Europe and corporate, of the sending international law and the prevailing other parts of the world. State in the area of acting as laws and regulations of the host notary and civil registrar and in country. This is what defines the

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This development has brought in its wake a requirement for non-existent additional financial outlay to cater for the widening responsibility beyond the fundamental provisions of the VCCR, which puts the modest, dedicated, and conscientious service providers in the missions and consular posts on a collision course with a growing number of our compatriots in dire need of help on a foreign land. Whereas service givers are constantly under pressure to work to meet the rising expectations of service receivers, service receivers, on the other hand, are more inclined to the make-believe vision of grandeur and self-righteousness of service givers. This is what I refer to as the expectation gap. And reinforcing this rancorous stage is a heavy-duty bombardment of criticism of the Ministry by the affected individuals, their relatives stranded in Cameroon when their on the matter. This is not peculiar and other opinion leaders over the boat run aground were assisted to Ghana though. My research and airwaves and mostly supported by the Ghana Missions in Malabo interaction with some consular by some media sensationalism. and Lomé to return home at the officers of other countries revealed expense of those Missions. that the first action whenever The Ministry has coped inimitably, such a situation is brought to the reaching out for support from The largest evacuation of Ghanaians attention of the Mission or the anywhere necessary and from took place during the 2011 Libyan authorities is to reach out to the its own meagre resources. For conflict. The Ministry undertook families of the affected persons. instance, the Foreign Ministry had this task with the assistance This is especially the case when to intervene in the repatriation of of other stakeholders including the form of assistance being some stranded Ghanaian nationals international partners such as sought is financial and, indeed, it who had travelled to Russia to the International Organisation for is not uncommon for diplomatic watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Migration (IOM) and the United or consular representatives to be In this particular exercise, the Nations High Commissioner for approached by their nationals for Ministry was graciously supported Refugees (UNHCR) to successfully financial assistance in case of travel financially by the Office of the evacuate over ten thousand distress. Many officers abroad Chief of Staff to the President and (10,000) Ghanaians to safety. often find themselves having to with air logistical support from provide tickets from their own the Nigerian Government. The reality is that there is no regular resources for distressed Ghanaians budget for such consular assistance, for their return home or to cover In August 2019, about seven (7) despite persistent representations hospital bills, rent, school fees Ghanaian fishermen who were made to the Ministry of Finance and……..the list is endless.

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citizens at the lowest possible about time travel insurance was cost without prior application to made mandatory for all Ghanaian the Home Office. Giving financial travellers. assistance is discouraged except in very special cases. In the case That notwithstanding, it is worth of the United States of America, assessing the above-stated best consuls may advance loans to practices to model a practicable facilitate the repatriation of the approach to handling the affected person, who is required expanding demand for consular to repay the loan and is restricted services, especially the ones from travel until full payment is requiring expending financial made. resources.

The literature also indicates that In an effort to design a Japanese consuls are authorised comprehensive consular policy to assist in the relief and for all Missions, it is crucial repatriation of Japanese nationals that a credible, reliable and who are destitute and want to comprehensive database of return home. Ghanaians living abroad is developed. Resources have to In the case of India, it is stated be devoted to this system which that Heads of Missions are would not only enhance and allowed to exercise discretion improve the delivery of consular in the matter of giving financial services and the promotion and assistance, which could be in the protection of the welfare of The fundamental criterion to form of cash payments or loans Ghanaians, but it would also be qualify for any form of consular to the affected person. In the a useful tool in the identification assistance is that the seeker must case of repatriation of an Indian and verification of the nationality be a citizen of the country. Other national, prior permission of the of a person living abroad. considerations in determining Ministry of External Affairs is financial assistance are not generally required and any money Ghana may also consider well defined, however certain spent on the repatriation is usually engaging countries, particularly core elements may include recovered from the guarantor those hosting large numbers whether the person concerned who gave the financial guarantee of Ghanaian nationals, with the found himself/herself in that at the issuance of the national objective of executing consular situation as a result of their own passport to the applicant. treaties. misbehaviour or ill judgement and whether there are other sources One critical point to be stressed Till then, the Ministry will continue of assistance, especially from host in the Ministry’s sensitisation of to execute its consular mandate authorities, non-governmental Ghanaian travellers is that once in the best possible ways and as and international organisations or you decide to travel, the onus lies is the advice to every Foreign families back home. on you to ensure that you have Service Officer, when in doubt the requisite travel documents seek the advice and guidance from Some best practices which may and permits, where necessary, capital and obtain the appropriate be considered for Ghana Missions you have secured accommodation instructions. Abroad are, for instance, in the as well as funding to cover the United Kingdom, where consuls trip, health care, food and other are allowed to repatriate British contingencies. Maybe it is also

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 31 GENDER ISSUES INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND INCLUSIVENESS

ABSTRACT to gain preeminent foci of global International relations discourse has human development conversation. In been widely dominated by subjects light of this, the paper seeks to bring considered to be masculine in to the fore some contributions of inclination with relatively minimum African women to development on focus on gender theory discourse. the continent of Africa, illuminating Although overly criticized for not their key achievements. In the case of making rational inputs in international Ghana, it presents a panoramic view relations theory, gender theories have of measures being initiated to enhance proven beyond reasonable doubt women empowerment and inclusion that the subject matter of gender in decision-making in the country. It is equally relevant to all disciplines. concludes that disregarding women Thus, it is no longer a matter of “You empowerment and their agency through Just Don’t Understand” but insightful inclusion and participation in decision- By: arguments have been contributed to making processes is counterproductive Nana Ama Owusuaa support claims of feminists. Owing to to national development. Afriyie Kankam new trends in international politics, the FSO A5 tenets of gender theorist, and in this INTRODUCTION case feminist tenets, have been cited With the evolving trends of society, within the spheres and framework the field of International Relations of soft power and human security. (IR) is no longer dominated by These are the claims and narratives conventional subject areas such as of gender theorist since the 1980s. inter-state wars, sovereignty and It is not out of context that on the state security. Subject areas including global front, gender issues featured ethnic identity, human security, smart in the Millennium Development Goals power, gender and economy have and is currently being pursued in been introduced to the IR discipline. the Sustainable Development Goals. The conventional subject matter of These measures have contributed in IR has masculine underpinnings which providing the requisite impetus for leaves little or no room for gender issues related to women empowerment deliberations. However, the changing

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The utility of this in women empowerment and in all national sectors (including the economic, political and social divisions) bespeaks the need for States, intergovernmental organizations and other relevant development partners to initiate measures to enhance attainment of the development goals and promote women participation in decision- making.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN dynamics of international politics the past, MDG 3 emphasised the AFRICA and development makes evident need to promote gender equality The marginalization and relegation feminist narratives which seek to and empowerment of women. This of women to the periphery of amplify gender issues in IR. Some goal sought to enhance the status national development largely IR theorists argue that, gender and well-being of women through undermines development in most discussions do not make rational knowledge and skills acquisition, countries of which Africa is not an inputs in international relations economic empowerment as exception. While current trends but rather alludes to feminine well as inclusive participation in suggest that African States have sentiments. Feminists, on the other decision-making processes across initiated a number of policies that hand, have countered this view the world. As talks on the MDGs are aiding women empowerment that make logical contributions ended, a new policy framework, through education, economic to IR discussions by citing their the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable opportunities, technical and tenets within the parameters Development has been initiated. vocational skills as well as creating and scope of human security, Due to its relevance, gender has spaces for women participation, interdependence, diplomacy been featured in the ongoing statistics have shown that, “the and soft power. The works of Sustainable Development Goals number of women occupying feminists such as Ann Tickner, (SDGs). Goal 5 of the SDGs seeks leadership and influential positions Cynthia Enloe, Chimamanda Ngozi to “Achieve Gender Equality and is increasing steadily but with Adichie, and Sylvia Tamale, for empower all women and girls”. hindrances of masculine dominated instance, demonstrate feminists’ It recognizes the entrenched ideologies”. These include what contribution to mainstreaming socio-cultural norms that are considered as the preserve of gender in development discourse continue to hinder women and women- childbearing and rearing, as a relevant subject matter in IR. girls development in societies. as well as home managers and In recognition of this, the United caretakers. According to Sethi S. Following the above, gender Nations (UN) makes provisions to (2016) “African women have been related issues, especially women correct the anomaly with Goal 5 key players in restructuring the empowerment has become a critical of the SDGs. It is expected that continent and are indeed a vital issue in international affairs. This the stipulated targets set for force for growth and development- has contributed to development gender equality will be attained at as leaders, mothers, educators and and activation and establishment the end of the agenda of SDGs in decision makers”. This is evident of numerous policy frameworks 2030. “Targets 5.1, 5.a, 5.b and in plethora of research work to address the chasms in gender 5.c” of Goal 5 are geared towards which have shown that gender inequality in countries across the harnessing women participation, empowerment is catalytic to world. It is not surprising that in advancement and empowerment. sustainable economic development

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in the world. For this reason, the matter of “aid” in the discipline of In the 6th Parliament, thirty-six Mckinsey Global Institute asserts international economic relations. women MPs were elected out of a that, “gender inequality is a critical total number of two hundred and global economic challenge since Winnie Byanyima, a Ugandan seventy five MPs. The numbers women account for half the world’s woman, has chalked many are increasing but at a relatively working-age population and if it successes by contributing low rate taking into consideration happens that they are unable to her quota to the international that the number of seats for attain full heights in their economic community as “Director of Gender the MPs generally increased. potential then, it is indeed a global and Development of the United This notwithstanding women economic challenge”. Nations Development Programme”, have occupied various influential “Director of the Directorate of positions and have contributed ACHIEVEMENTS OF SOME Women, Gender and Development their quota towards the nation’s AFRICAN WOMEN at the African Union headquarters” development. The following are The strides of women on the and is currently serving as the some ministerial and other high continent show that national “Executive Director of the United level positions that Ghanaian development is attainable at a Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS women have occupied in the Fourth fast and better rate with women (UNAIDS)”. The above-mentioned Republic: “Chief of Staff”, “Chief involved in decision-making achievements of African women Justice”, “Electoral Commissioner”, processes and in some cases suggest that creating spaces for Ministers for “Foreign Affairs and allowed to spearhead the affairs of harnessing women empowerment Regional Integration”, “Attorney developmental projects. is crucial and will contribute a great General and Justice”, “Aviation”, deal towards development of “Fisheries and Aquaculture”, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, was the first African countries and the continent “Gender, Children and Social female Head of State in Liberia as a whole. Protection”, “Communication” and Africa as a whole. Her role as and “Local Government and Rural a president was admirable. For a WHAT GHANA IS ALREADY Development”, among others. woman to be able to manage the DOING affairs of a country is a daunting The story of women empowerment It is worthy to note that the task, more-so, for a country that in Ghana is no different from that creation of a Ministry of Gender, was coming out of war. This is of the rest of the world. Over the Children and Social Protection in because, women in leadership years, the Government of Ghana Ghana is a testament to the efforts positions usually must be firm has been pursuing some policies to by Government to provide an in order to work with their male find solutions to gender inequality institutional framework to address subordinates or colleagues amidst in the country. issues of gender inequality and criticisms of their roles. African discrimination. women have chalked successes In recent times, although Ghana globally. Together with Ellen J. has recorded a considerable There are upcoming gender policies Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian number of women participation in in Ghana including the Affirmative received the Nobel Peace Prize in governance and decision-making Action Bill. The Ministry of Gender, 2011. processes at both community and Children and Socal Protection has national levels, their number is been pushing for this bill to be Again, Wangari Muta Maathai, a relatively low. Citing an example passed as law. A former Gender Kenyan, received the Nobel Peace from Ghana’s Parliament, statistics Minister, Nana Oye Lithur, in 2016, Prize 2004 for her contribution show that out of two hundred posited that, the Affirmative to sustainable development, and thirty (230) Members of Action Bill, when passed, will be democracy and peace. Dambisa Parliament (MPs), 28 were victory for Ghana and its political Moyo, a Zambian is known for her recorded as women in the 5th spheres since it will contribute remarkable inputs on the subject Parliament of the Fourth Republic. to enhancing the general well-

34 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019 being of women towards national training in order to enhance gender Nations Development Programme advancement. She further equity and the socio-economic (UNDP) in 2016, indicate that, indicated that “Affirmative action well-being of women. The above- the exclusion of women in peace bill is an institutional remedy for mentioned initiatives have made and development enterprises discrimination and not women it possible for women to work is detrimental to the growth of privileges”. Other gender policies, and contribute to development most nations. The UNDP report which have been instituted in projects. also stresses on the narrative Ghana, include provisions from the that, equal participation is key to Convention on Elimination of All Although policies have been made credible development of a country Forms of Discrimination Against to amend the inequality in society, as it improves the country’s Women (CEDAW), SDGs and the the lapse is really about the development. African Union Gender Policy. implementation of these gender policies. Gender related bills have In Ghana, women account Also, in some sectors of the been passed but the challenge is for about 51% of the entire Ghanaian economy, infrastructure with the implementation plan. population. This informs us that including restrooms, daycare and empowering women and giving nursery centers have been provided CONCLUSION AND them the opportunity they to cater for the needs of women RECOMMENDATION deserve in critical sectors will (especially pregnant and lactating The empowerment and inclusion improve national development. mothers). Sectors such as the of women in social, economic and It is evident that efforts are security agencies, have designed political spheres has received critical being made to involve women in female uniforms for pregnant attention on the international decision-making projects across women. Some State and private front. The rate of development, to all work sectors. However, this has institutions have also initiated an extent, has a direct link with the to be strengthened with a robust certain policies including maternal level of inclusion and participation implementation of all action plans. healthcare policies, incentives, of women in various sectors of This has the potential to contribute provision of scholarships and skills life. Reports from the United to national developments in Ghana.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 35 EDUCATION FREE EDUCATION INITIATIVE MUST SUCCEED – SOME THOUGHTS “Education is the passport to the future. standards in our public school system. For tomorrow belongs to those who Our senior citizens will confirm that prepare for it today.” --- Malcolm X regular and unannounced visits to schools in the past by “School Inspectors” served Ghana is embarking on a quest to as an effective check on the teacher- prioritize education as a tool for student environment. A drive around transformation. How far along are we on some schools, especially in the rural and this most noble path? “Education” has remote areas, reveals that school hours been a major issue in previous elections are too often spent on outdoor activities and has become the flagship initiative of such as sports, weeding and other the new government. menial activities at construction sites or farms. The end result is that some Free basic education has existed for a public schools are failing our children long time in well-developed countries. who complete Junior High School and By: The phenomenal advancement of still cannot read or write. Mawutor N. K. Alifo those countries alone should spur us on FSO A1, towards the imperative task of providing Supervision must include inspection of Ghana High Commission, free basic and secondary education for facilities, teaching methods, teacher and Ottawa all Ghanaian children. Not only must the student compliance with attendance education be ‘free’ but it must be of the and punctuality standards, as well highest quality and standard possible so as application of sanctions on errant our children can contribute productively teachers and students. and positively within an increasingly globalized workforce. The creation of well-functioning school boards for each school, comprising The implementation of the Free parents, administrators, teachers, even Education Policy has started with students, can strengthen the overall some unavoidable challenges, and our accountability mandate of public schools. collective resolve is required to sustain it in the national interest. The educational authorities can create The relevant authorities may pay social media handles/helplines to attention to the following among the empower parents and communities to numerous policy options at their disposal: report any lapses in the school system. The Minister for Education and his SUPERVISION OF SCHOOLS management team may consider adding Lack of adequate supervision over an element of regular unannounced visits many decades has contributed to the to schools. steady erosion of teaching and learning

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Supervision may also be outsourced through Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements in an effort to inject fresh ideas and approaches to managing our public schools.

EXPAND MANDATE OF SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES Our nation’s forward march will be hampered if we cannot enforce attendance and enrollment in schools. Consider the heavy toll widespread illiteracy and ignorance has levied on our national aspirations! Our nation offers free basic education and yet children of school-going age children still loiter about on the challenges our country faces. Why, believe that no one else can make streets and in communities. How can for example, after all these years our country better than Ghanaians we expect to move forward when a of zoological and botanical studies, themselves. significant percentage of our children we here in Ghana cannot establish stand on street corners begging or well-functioning zoos, nature THE ROLE OF THE DIASPORA selling chewing gum, carring heavy parks and gardens as we see Ghanaians who have earned loads in the markets, or are used to elsewhere? How prepared are our teaching degrees overseas or who provide free farm labour? It is time to Agriculture students to improve have worked in advanced nations establish – and enforce -- a binding upon traditional farming practices? for a length of time should be social contract that there is no excuse Despite Survey, Planning and Civil encouraged to return home to for children to stay out of school. Engineering Departments in our assist as teacher trainers, teachers, education system, can we state and administrators. Retirees who We must expand the mandate of that all towns, cities and villages have served in various sectors the Department of Social Welfare are expanding in accordance with a should also be encouraged to as well as law enforcement agencies well-defined plan? impart their skills to the youth. to sanction irresponsible parents These individuals can serve as and truant children. Indeed, we SOCIAL BENEFITS inspiring role models for students. must institutionalize a policy to hold The free education policy will accountable those parents/families come at a cost and in order to NEW SOURCES OF FUNDING who do not ensure their children derive the full societal benefits, The free education policy is going attend school. the school system itself must instill to be a very expensive national ‘life lessons’ that are critical to our project, but the simple answer to CURRICULA REVIEW progress. Respect and care for the the naysayers is the wise adage “if Our changing world requires a review environment, a responsible and you think education is expensive, of our school curricula. Proper productive work ethic, punctuality, try ignorance”. Additional avenues education must deepen the nexus peaceful conflict resolution, service will have to be explored to provide between what is taught in the to others, personal integrity back-up support to the central classroom and its practical application and responsibility are ideals that government in the provision of in the ‘real world’. The new curricula should be modeled for children adequate funding for education. should accentuate critical thinking by parents, community members, The, Metropolitan, Municipal and and problem-solving skills that will teachers, and administrators. The District Assemblies (MMDAs) equip our youth to face the myriad ‘new Ghanaian’ must be taught to with possible contributions from

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religious bodies as well as old priority to improve the quality and our time, but we are all in agreement student groups could be counted accessibility of education. that the seed of a prosperous, upon. inclusive, secure society we want CHALLENGES for our children tomorrow must be Real Estates Sector A major identified challenge is lack planted today. The seed begins to There is large revenue potential of Information Communication take root in the nutrient-rich soil of in the real estate sector of Technology infrastructure and a quality education available to all the country. An education tax application within the school our children as prescribed not only is required in all real estate system, especially in rural areas. by our 1992 Constitution but also transactions and when adopted, Another hurdle is the burgeoning as envisioned in the A.U. Agenda contracts, purchase, lease and student populations in the larger 2063 and the 2030 Agenda tenancy agreements could only be second cycle schools. Many more for Sustainable Development sealed with proof of payment of sacrifices are needed for facility Goals (SDGs) - “Ensure inclusive the proposed tax. expansion in existing institutions and equitable quality education alongside the establishment of and promote lifelong learning Development Partners new fully equipped second cycle opportunities for all”. Enough signals have been given institutions in each constituency or to move the country beyond district. “An investment in knowledge pays foreign aid. However, we can call the best interest.” – Benjamin on our development partners, CONCLUSION Franklin especially the migrant-receiving Every Ghanaian has their nations, to assist with our national perspectives on the big issues of

38 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY PERSONAL CYGIENE- THINK PREVENTION!

Personal Cygiene is a coinage of the others. With the tremendous growth in term personal cyber hygiene which the new financial technologies (fintech) can be likened to personal hygiene in including Mobile Money Interoperability, a cyber space. Personal cygiene is the it is essential to be cognisant of the act of taking steps to ensure optimal dangers of cyber-attacks as well as the performance and enhanced security of benefits of practicing personal cygiene. one’s Internet of Things (IoT). Poor personal cygiene can expose one to cyber-attacks including the following: Practicing Personal Cygiene can help us prevent or minimize cyber-attacks. • E-mail spoofing: It is of the utmost importance that E-mail spoofing is basically sending an we protect our identity and other e-mail with a forged sender address. personal data that could be stolen or It is a popular attack where the sender compromised. According to the 2019 changes the message headers so that By: Identity Fraud Study from Javelin messages appear as sent from someone George Mills Strategy & Research, the number of else. Attackers use e-mail spoofing Principal Computer consumers who were victims of identity to deceive and dupe employees of a Operator theft decreased from a record high of company to fetch their personal data, 16.7 million in 2017 to 14.4 million login credentials and other confidential in 2018 due to the practice of this data. phenomenon. • Cyberstalking: The Government of Ghana in Cyberstalking is a criminal practice in digitizing the Ghanaian economy has which an attacker harasses a victim introduced a number of technological through the internet via e-mail or innovations in the field of Information instant messaging (IM) or messages Communication Technology (ICT) to posted to a discussion group or website. make delivery of public services more Cyberstalking may include sending reliable and efficient. These innovations manipulative, threatening, lewd or include, online passport applications, harassing emails from an assortment of online registrations at the Driver and email accounts, libel, identity theft, et Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), cetera. introduction of a paperless system at ports and harbours in Ghana, among

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• Spamming: can significantly improve a person’s hardware failure, natural disaster, or Spamming involves sending indiscri- security when using online devices. data corruption, such as a malicious minate messages to a mailing list or attack. a large number of internet users. • Know your devices: Know your hardware specifications, • Practice selective software • Hacking: such as computers (Hard Disk installation: “Hacking is identifying weakness in Drive (HDD) 500gig, Random The world wide web is made of computer systems or networks to Access Memory (RAM) 4gig), vast traps for novice users when exploit its weakness to gain access. printers (Printing type, paper size, downloading a software. There are a An example of hacking is using a printing technology), smartphones lot of fake “Download” buttons that password cracking algorithm to (Operating system, display, are actually advertisements. Refrain gain access to a system”. chipset, RAM) and tablets. Know from installing any advertised the software you use for example software that does not serve • Virus dissemination: Adobe reader, Microsoft Office. your purpose to avoid viruses and “A situation where a malicious malwares. Always install software software attaches to other software • Regular password change: that is needed to complete a specific that destroys the system of the The computer stores many sensitive task from reliable sources. victim”. data. One security nugget usually given to users is to regularly change • Installing antivirus software: • Dumpster diving: their passwords. According to An antivirus software is like the A technique used by unauthorized Thytoctic, 80% of all cyber security police officer at the gate of a persons to retrieve information attacks involve a weak or stolen computer system. It protects the of victims by doing a thorough password. Changing your password computer from incoming threats, search through trashcans, scouting regularly reduces your risk of seeks out, destroys and warns of for receipts and invoices in pursuit exposure and avoids a number of possible threats to the system. New of credit card details and other dangers. viruses are created all the time and credentials. it is the job of the user to find the • Regular software update: latest antivirus software to combat • Cyberbullying: Software updates are imperative these threats. The use of electronic communication as they include critical patches of an intimidating or threatening to security lapses. They can also A cyber-attack, just like a deadly nature to bully a person. improve your software stability and disease may take a lot of time remove outdated features. to resolve. It may also be more Cybercrime is on the rise and this expensive to cure, therefore we was confirmed in an article by Bob • Regular hardware update: must learn to prevent rather than Violino, in which a study by Accenture Upgrading the hardware going through the pains for a and the Pomenon Institute revealed components for example, the cure. The human being has been that the average cost of cybercrime computer’s RAM and hard drive identified as the weakest link in the for an organization had increased by can significantly improve the cyber security chain that means USD1.4 million in 2018 to USD13.0 computer’s performance and run you can be your weakest link. Make million and the average number of programs efficiently. it your responsibility to practice security breaches in the last year Personal Cygiene in this information rose by 11 percent from 130% to • Regular data backup: age and it might help you eliminate 145%. Backing up of data is to create a cyber threats and reduce the risks duplication that can be recovered of cyber-attacks. Now let us take a look at some good in the event of data failure which Personal cygiene practices that can be the result of software or

40 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019 DEXT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED BECOMING A GLOBAL LEADER IN STEM EDUCATION set can engage 30 times more students compared to a traditional laboratory for half the cost.

The science set has electronic components, a robot and solar panels along with other materials that enable the effective teaching and learning of fundamental 21st century science and engineering choosing to pursue the subject in concepts. Furthermore, besides Africa. providing an unparalleled personalized experience, the At USD10,000, the average cost science set provides the easiest of a science laboratory is too high and least intimidating path to for most communities leaving up introduce students to innovation, to 90% of schools without a well- technology and problem-solving. equipped science laboratory. Currently, the science set can be Over the past two years, a found in over 700 schools in Ghana company which was founded by and abroad with awards from two young innovators from the several international organization Kwame Nkrumah University of including, International Trade According to the United Nations Science and Technology has been Center (ITC), American Society Africa Renewal Magazine developing what they call the of Mechanical Engineers and the (October 2017), Africa needs at science set – a groundbreaking yet Royal Academy of Engineering. least 45% of its workforce to be simple product that could solve scientists and engineers in order this continental problem. Dext Technology is partnering with to sufficiently grow and develop. Government and organizations to However, for many primary school The science set, which was bring their innovative product to students across Africa, the subject adjudged the most innovative schools all over the continent and of science and engineering seem education solution on the African around the world. Their vision is to difficult and uninteresting. This is continent by the African Union propel Africa to become a global largely due to the lack of tools and in 2018, is a ‘lab’ that is small leader in Science, Technology, facilities needed to teach science enough to fit in a student’s bag. A Engineering and Mathematics in a practical way. This has led to a textbook sized box that contains (STEM) education. general disinterest in science with over 45 materials and components only 12% of students currently for experiment, the science

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 41 DECEMBER 2019

In August 2019, Dext Technology collaborated with the Royal Academy of Engineering to supply five hundred (500) schools in the UK with resources, which included the science set that will be used to help build students’ creative capacity and introduce them to problem- solving as well as innovation. With the aid of the science set, which is fully manufactured in Ghana, these schools will also teach students about smart homes, green energy, electronics and vertical farming.

DEXT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED Website: www.thescienceset.com Email: [email protected] Tel:+233244521639/ +233209394141

42 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter LIFE CORNER THE REALITIES OF A DUTY TOUR ABROAD

Most of the time, you will have mixed with your own colleague officers in the feelings when you are posted abroad. Mission. It is often said that your tour There is always a sense of excitement, of duty is as successful as the people but also anxiety: excitement because you meet at post. Team work is always you are going abroad to represent your the desired expectation. But that is country and to enjoy the conditions sometimes not the case. Because of that come with it; anxiety because of the close working environment, you the unknown. You never get to see the get to know some officers much better full picture of what awaits you until you when they are at post. Officers you get there; and when you do, the reality work with at base whom you consider can hit you as hard as a tornado. to be pleasant, hardworking and easy to relate with may suddenly turn out The schedule at post may be different differently. But you will also encounter from that at base. The work is very very affable officers, sometimes to By: hectic, and you need to keep pace with your own surprise; perhaps they didn’t Rose Adobea Agyapong the dictates of each day. You must keep show those attributes whilst at base – FSO C2 up with arriving early, closing late, the warm, affectionate and mature. weekend duties, the emergency and unexpected protocol requirements… Always remember that your job at post and the list goes on and on and on. But is to help build our nation, Ghana. You that is not the full story – there is a lot need to dedicate yourself to your work, to learn from all of these if you apply concentrate on what you are assigned yourself diligently to your work; and to do and give it your best. Some duty that, essentially, is what you are sent to posts can be challenging, especially in do – to work. situations where officers cannot be joined by their families; and the last You also have an opportunity to deepen thing they need is for you to be the your cross-cultural experience and source of further stresses. learning about the country in which you live – the people, their language, Now you know. More than anything values, and customs, among others. else, pray for the right team both at post Understanding your new society is and at base and also make the personal essential to your daily existence and effort to develop cordial relations with ability to work effectively at post. all colleagues. You will thank me later Therefore, take advantage and learn for this tip. new things. It will be good for your own development and world view.

The tricky part of your duty tour abroad, however, is how you relate

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 43 DECEMBER 2019 MY NATIONAL SERVICE EXPERIENCE

In September 2018, I was posted to were tasked to create a matrix in order do my one-year mandatory National to track some delivery outcomes. Service at the Ministry of Foreign Indeed, this task was tedious because Affairs and Regional Integration. The we were required to constantly follow very thought of working there got me up at every Bureau to gather data. We thrilled. I would soon come to realise had to work under a lot of pressure to that work there was overwhelming meet the deadline as this task was to due to the critical role played by the be accomplished in a single week. Ministry both within the country and overseas. The Ministry organised monthly lecture series that both Staff and I was assigned to the Office of the National Service Persons could attend. Chief Director with five other Service These lecture series were insightful Persons. Our duties included: research, and refreshing, as each session offered By: basic administrative tasks including a new learning experience and also Daniel Awoonor-Williams updating internal and external deepened my knowledge on a wide National Service Person, directories, as well as assisting in range of subjects. 2018/2019 organising Bureau meetings. The work environment was My earliest memory goes back to collaborative and fast-paced as most the first month when the Service assignments were treated with a Persons in my Bureau were tasked degree of urgency. Initially, this was to coordinate a project. Under the something I struggled with since I mentorship and guidance of our preferred working alone but I had to immediate superiors, we were able to change. You get to know that you coordinate and work as a team. It gave cannot do everything by yourself. At us a sense of accomplishment as we one point, I realised the importance of managed to complete our very first teamwork. assignment on time. It was a whole new learning experience for me, and The most memorable experience I I could realize that my organizational had during my National Service was skills had improved. being surrounded by professional supervisors and interesting friends. Over time, I got to hone basic administrative skills and learned to In a nutshell, working at the Ministry of work under pressure. some of these Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration skills were utilized unconsciously. has not only equipped me with diverse working skills but ultimately has piqued I believe the toughest challenge I came my interest in diplomacy. across was when about three months into the Service, my colleagues and I

44 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019 The Better You Life is not a race but a stage Life is a journey full of struggles Life is full of ups and downs Sometimes smooth, other times rough It is endlessly indescribable

How well you start matters not Rather how well you finish What you start with matters not Rather what you end with The end speaks greater volumes

Life is no straight path but a wavy one With setbacks and obstacles along the way: By: The richest man trod the path of wretchedness Grace Maakinyi Mbiba The academic encountered numerous failures FSO A5 The genius, myriad disappointments

No one remembers and cares about your failures- Neither the incapacities nor inadequacies of the morn No one recalls the painful moments and disappointments- Neither the countless setbacks nor the lonely struggles And certainly, neither the shame nor even the disgrace along the way

Remain resilient and hopeful beyond the seen Keep the lamp burning bright Remain assiduous and optimistic Trust in your Maker’s leading Trust in His perfect timing and purpose

For in just a little while, the dawn will break with joy and laughter A new chapter will unfold And you’ll reach your desired haven Then will you realise this one truism of life: That life’s wavy unpleasantness Only prepares and refines you For a better YOU! POEM

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 45 DID YOU KNOW? SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE MINISTRY

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration seats respectively, while the third room is on renders some services to the general public through the first floor and can seat 54 persons. its bureaux and offices. Some of which include the d. Foyer Accra International Conference Centre, the Legal and The Foyer has a seating capacity of six Consular Bureau and the Passports Office. hundred (600) people. It can also be used as an exhibition area capable of hosting a ACCRA INTERNATIONAL minimum of fifty (50) exhibitors. CONFERENCE CENTRE (AICC) The Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), 2. Press Centre (West Wing) formerly known as the NAM Conference Centre, was The Press Centre is located on the first floor and built in 1991 to host the Tenth Ministerial Meeting equipped with modern facilities for eighty (80) of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) that was held Journalists. The Press Centre also consists of a in Accra in September 1991. The AICC is the biggest working area which can be used for exhibitions, host of conferences in Ghana and one of the leading lunch, dinner, cocktail, etc. conference centres in Africa. It is a multi-purpose conference centre capable of seating over 3,000 3. The Ground Floor Corridors: people. Corridor I & II (East Wing & West Wing) These can also be used for exhibition, dinner, Facilities at the AICC lunch and reception for 150-200 people. 1. Conference Halls. These are: the Main Hall or Auditorium, two 4. Corridor III (East Wing) Committee Halls, three Meeting Rooms and a Also located on the first floor, (East Wing), is Foyer. a corridor which has a snack bar and seating a. Main Hall/ Auditorium space for two hundred (200) persons for dinner, The Auditorium provides seating for up to cocktail, lunch and exhibition. 1,600 people with a Gallery that has 132 seats. The hall provides full audio facility 5. Corridor IV (West Wing) for simultaneous interpretation into five On the first floor, adjoining the Press Centre, is a languages. The multi-purpose hall can snack bar and an area with a seating capacity of also be used for musical shows, concerts, one hundred and fifty (150) people, suitable for lectures, theatrical performances and other dinner, cocktail, lunch and exhibition as well. public events. b. Committee Halls 6. Outdoor Grounds Two (2) Committee Halls can be found on the The grounds of the AICC are also available for ground floor, each with a seating capacity of events. 208 persons. Each Committee Hall has audio facilities for simultaneous interpretation into five (5) languages as well as for television RESERVATIONS transmission. Further enquiries may be made at: c. Meeting Rooms Telephone: +233 302 669 600 The Centre has three Meeting Rooms; two Email: [email protected] (2) on the ground floor; with 34 and 54 [email protected]

46 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019

THE LEGAL AND all requests for Residence The Bureau further processes CONSULAR BUREAU Permits, Work Permits and Visas applications for renunciation and The objective of the Legal and for Diplomatic staff and their dual citizenship received from Consular Bureau (LECB) of the families/dependents as well as Missions abroad. The Bureau Ministry of Foreign Affairs and handling applications for travel also undertakes the attestation/ Regional Integration is to provide certificates for foreign nationals. legalisation of documents as well legal and consular services in the The Bureau also handles requests as foreign entities’ requests for implementation of the Foreign Policy for extension of consular access verification of documents issued Objectives of Ghana. to foreign nationals in Ghanaian by Ghanaian authorities. prisons. Legal Services The Bureau provides legal counsel to The fees for Consular Services are as follows: the government on its international NO. SERVICES PRICE obligations and contributes in the 1 Attestation of legal documents GH¢ 37.50 negotiation and interpretation of 2 Travel certificates GH¢ 37.50 international agreements. The Bureau 3 Visa on arrival for diplomatic entities Gratis further prepares instruments of 4 Residence permit for members of diplomatic Gratis ratification and coordinates activities Missions and international organisations arising from Ghana’s participation in 5 Application for dual citizenship from Ghana Payable at the affairs of the multilateral bodies Missions abroad the Missions such as the United Nations (UN), 6 Application for renunciation of citizenship from Payable at African Union (AU) and ECOWAS. Ghana Missions abroad the Missions 7 Application for diplomatic and service passport Gratis Consular Services 8 Consular assistance to Ghanaians in Ghana and The Bureau works with Ghana abroad Missions abroad to extend consular assistance and protection to NB: Please note that the above quoted reviewed fees by the Government, Ghanaians abroad and informs will take effect within the first quarter of 2020. Ghanaians on matters relating to consular protection overseas. In line with government policy to support Ghanaians abroad, the Bureau provides a wide range of consular assistance to Ghanaians, MIGRANTS/TRAVELLERS ranging from tracing lost relatives abroad, claims for compensation for Ghanaians are advised death, injury or loss of employment, upon arrival in any country burial of deceased relatives and claims thereon, to liaising with host to approach the nearest authorities of countries to trace Embassies/High Commissions culprits of fraudulent deals against of Ghana for registration to Ghanaians/foreigners and monetary facilitate the extension of claims arising from commercial consular asssistance should it transactions. become necessary. In collaboration with the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ministry of the Interior, the Bureau processes

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 47 DECEMBER 2019

PASSPORTS OFFICE Payment options include: The Passports Office exists to issue passports and 1. Mobile Money payments other travel documents of Ghana to Ghanaian Citizens a) MTN Mobile Money in accordance with the Passports and Travel Certificate b) AirtelTigo Cash Decree 1967, (NLCD 155). The broad objective of the c) Vodafone Cash Passports Office is to ensure the security and integrity of Ghanaian passports. 2. Debit or Credit Cards • VISA and Master Cards HOW TO APPLY FOR A GHANA PASSPORT? There are two (2) ways of applying for a Ghana passport: FEES AND CHARGES The Online Passport Application and Manual Passport • Express (32 pages) GH¢150.00 Application. (48 pages) GH¢200.00 • Regular (32 pages) GH¢100.00 For online applications visit passport.mfa.gov.gh and log (48 pages) GH¢150.00 in as an existing user or register and sign up as a new NB: Please note that the above quoted reviewed fees by the Government, will take effect within the first quarter user. of 2020.

Online payment options include the following: ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 1. e-voucher from the following Banks: 1. Birth Certificate (proof of Ghanaian citizenship or a) Ecobank Ghana old passport, if a renewal) b) GCB Bank 2. Documents to support identity such as driver’s c) Zenith Bank license, national ID card; 3. Proof of profession, a work related photo ID card or 2. Mobile Money payments an introductory letter from the applicant’s employer. a) MTN Mobile Money A student ID is required if the applicant is in school. b) AirtelTigo Cash c) Vodafone Cash REQUIREMENTS FOR BIOMETRIC PASSPORT RENEWAL 3. Debit or Credit Cards 1. Completed passport application form • VISA and Master Cards 2. Old passport 3. Copy of valid visa if applicant has any in old For manual applications visit https://mfa.gov.gh passport Click on the Passports tab and follow the manual 4. Copy of last page passport application link. Download and print PDF form, 5. Proof of profession if changed fill and attach all the necessary documents, proceed to any passport application centre nationwide for capturing REQUIREMENTS FOR MISSING PASSPORT and processing. (Please note that the manual passport 1. Completed passport application form application platform will cease to operate by the end of 2. Police report the first quarter of 2020). 3. Affidavit

48 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter DECEMBER 2019

4. Birth certificate REQUIREMENTS FOR CHANGE OF NAME 5. Proof of identity 1. Marriage/divorce certificate 2. Affidavit REQUIREMENTS FOR DAMAGED PASSPORT 3. Gazette 1. Old damaged passport 2. Affidavit REQUIREMENTS FOR CHANGE OF DATE OF 3. Birth certificate (if ID page of passport is BIRTH destroyed) 1. Affidavit 4. Proof of identity 2. Gazette

Are you traveling outside Is your Is there a Ghana for a period passport change in your longer than the damaged? name? vadility of your Are the pages passport? Is your in your passport passport getting expiring in six exhausted? IF YES, VISIT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING BRANCHES months? OF THE PASSPORTS OFFICE

ADDRESSES OF PASSPORT APPLICATION CENTRES (PACs) Location Address Contact Ridge PAC (official only) Ridge 0299015612 Accra PAC Kinbu (old Foreign Affairs building) 0299015600 Tema PAC Community 4, former IRS Office 0299015613 Accra Premium PAC Accra Digital Centre, near STC 0299015599 Kumasi PAC Ministries Adum 0299015601 Kumasi Premium PAC Thankful Heights Building, Adum 0302214944 Takoradi PAC Ghana Immigration Service 0299015614 Sunyani PAC Adjacent to Jubilee Park 0299015596 Ho PAC Ghana Immigration Service 0299015597 Tamale PAC Police Park (old library) 0299015598 Koforidua PAC PWD Office, SSNIT Office Area 0299015595

As part of efforts to enhance service delivery, the Ministry has set up a Client Service Unit, which operates a call-in-system. This enables clients to get in touch with the Ministry no matter where they are located. The Client Service Unit can be reached on +233 302 73 84 73

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter 49 COPIES ARE AVAILABLE AT EPP BOOK SHOP, LEGON MALL www.gambaga.com [email protected]

+233 302 -811-900 www.ghandourcosmetics.com

50 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration Newsletter