To formally welcome Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to his new position, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a staff durbar on Monday, February 10, 2025.
The event brought the ministry’s executives and employees together in a spirit of unity and renewed dedication to their work.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the minister, was welcomed by Chief Director Amb. Ramses Cleland in his opening remarks, who also reassured him of the staff’s steadfast commitment to maintaining the highest standards of diplomatic service.
He underlined the ministry’s dedication to upholding operational excellence and guaranteeing work continuity.
He also conveyed gratitude for Hon. Ablakwa’s new insights to the Ministry, pointing out that his leadership will promote efficiency and innovation.
In his introductory speech to the Foreign Ministry, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa thanked everyone for the cordial welcome he had received since joining the Ministry.
He recognized how important the ministry is to furthering Ghana’s interests internationally.
He listed the main priorities for his administration, emphasizing tactical changes meant to improve the ministry’s effectiveness and service provision.
He listed reforming the passport acquisition system, including introducing a courier service for passport delivery and enhancing accessibility for Ghanaians, as one of his top priorities.
In order to establish a smooth and safe national identification system, he also emphasized the necessity of improving biometric integration across all government platforms, such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the National Identification Authority (NIA), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and passports.
Hon. Ablakwa also emphasized the significance of performance reviews and accountability, especially for officers going on duty tours to Ghanaian missions overseas.
He said that in order to make sure that these missions significantly advance Ghana’s diplomatic and economic goals, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be clearly stated.
He also emphasized the significance of economic diplomacy as a vital endeavor to draw in foreign capital, advance commerce, and fortify financial relations with partners throughout the world.
He emphasized that Ghana’s foreign policy would be centered on economic diplomacy, which would use diplomatic contacts to promote economic development and prosperity.
On his first day of work, the Minister established two committees: the Committee on Migration Coordination to develop a policy to handle the issue of irregular migration and the Committee on Passport Reforms to improve the effectiveness of the passport regime.
Staff members expressed excitement about the new leadership’s vision and dedication to improving the ministry’s operations as the durbar came to a successful conclusion.
Hon. Ablakwa reiterated his willingness to collaborate closely with all parties involved in order to accomplish common objectives and advance Ghana’s diplomatic efforts.
Source: newsthemegh.com