Ablakwa moves to reposition LECIAD as strategic intellectual partner for Ghana’s diplomacy

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has initiated moves to strengthen the strategic partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD) as Ghana seeks to consolidate its influence on key global issues.

Mr Ablakwa made the announcement on his official Facebook page after undertaking a working visit to LECIAD at the University of Ghana, where he held substantive discussions with the Centre’s leadership and faculty.

The Minister described LECIAD as a critical national institution and expressed pride in its contribution to Ghana’s diplomatic development since its establishment in 1989 as an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to him, the Centre has played a pivotal role in training generations of Ghanaian diplomats and international relations scholars, making it an important pillar of the country’s foreign policy architecture.

Mr Ablakwa said he has always regarded LECIAD as “the intellectual and research arm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” stressing the need for closer cooperation between academic research and diplomatic practice.

He explained that the working visit was aimed at reviewing the existing relationship between the two institutions, identifying opportunities for deeper collaboration and examining new developments and research findings capable of informing Ghana’s foreign policy.

Among the key areas highlighted were reparatory justice, peace and security, health sovereignty, United Nations reforms and the resetting of the international financial system issues on which Ghana continues to seek stronger international leadership.

As part of efforts to give the renewed partnership a strategic direction, the Minister disclosed that he had established a special committee comprising senior officials from the Foreign Affairs Ministry and LECIAD.

The committee is expected to make far-reaching recommendations on how the relationship can be strengthened and positioned to better serve Ghana’s diplomatic interests.

Mr Ablakwa thanked the Acting Director and faculty of LECIAD for their hospitality and the fruitful deliberations during his visit.

The renewed collaboration signals a push to bring research, scholarship and diplomacy closer together as Ghana seeks to play a more influential role in shaping conversations on global governance and international affairs.