Spanish Government Decorates Former Ambassador

The Spanish government last Tuesday decorated Mr Francis Alex Tsegah, Ghana's immediate past Ambassador to Spain, with that country's Order of the Civil Merit.
    
The award is in recognition of his roles in the establishment of the Ghanaian embassy in Spain and fostering of good relations between the two countries.
    
He was decorated with the award, made up of a circular golden crest and four in-built blue arrows symbolising prestige in the presence of diplomats, members of academia and relatives.      
    
Addressing the ceremony in Accra Spanish Ambassador in Ghana, Mrs Julia Alicia Olmo I. Romero, said it is to formally recognise his endeavours and his selfless dedication to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries during his stay in Madrid as Ghana's Ambassador to Spain.
    
Mrs Romero said the award was created in 1926 by King Alfonso to honour nationals or foreigners who rendered distinguished services to the nation or have had an outstanding collaboration with Spain for the benefit of mankind.
    
Mr Tsegah expressed gratitude to the King of Spain for recognising his roles during his duty tour in Madrid for the past five years.
    
He said even though diplomatic relations between the two countries started in the 1960s, few Spaniards, including government officials, knew much about Ghana.
    
He said this made him to embark on a marketing drive to advertise Ghana by visiting Spanish government officials, business executives, officials of trade associations as well as attended cultural and social events including radio interviews.
    
He said even though trade between both countries is still relatively low, prospects looked bright that trade volumes will increase adding that more Spanish investors are looking for possibilities to invest in Ghana.
    
Mr Tsegah said by courting Spain, which is re-emerging as an important power but with little colonial baggage in Africa, Ghana can become a true partner of the European Commission.
   
 He commended the staff that worked with him at the Embassy for their dedicated service and dedicated the award to them and to Ghanaians for their support.
    
Mr Tsegah was appointed Ghana's ambassador to Spain between October 5, 2004 and April 11, 2009 where he helped establish Ghana's Embassy in Spain.
    
Before then, Ghana's Embassy in Paris was responsible for Spain.