Envoys receive letters; present credentials
President J.A. Kufuor has urged Ghana’s envoys to work diligently and report accurately to the government to enable it fashion out appropriate policies on international issues.
He said such officials are operating in sensitive areas and they have to bring their experiences and background to bear on their work to enable the country to achieve the maximum results from their work.
President made the appeal when he presented letters of credence and instruments of commission to two envoys at the Castle, Osu in Accra yesterday.
They are Mr Kojo A. Wadee, Ambassador designate to Angola and Mr Chris Kpodo, Ambassador designate to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They swore the oath of allegiance, official oath and oath of secrecy. Mr Yaw Adjei who was the Ambassador to Democratic Republic of Congo has been re-assigned to Brazil.
President Kufuor said the two envoys are career diplomats in whom the government reposes much confidence and trust. He said they are going on posting as the government’s representatives. President Kufuor said the two envoys are being posted to areas which are very sensitive and urged them to discharge their duties diligently.
Responding, Mr Kpodo expressed appreciation to the President for the honour done them and pledged to work to justify the confidence reposed in them.
He said they will be guided by the vision of the government and expressed their commitment to work towards ensuring international peace and security. President receives Philippines Ambassador (16-10-2002) -- THE President, Mr J. A. Kufuor, has appealed to the international community to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to resolve the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire. He said the hostilities in that country are disturbing and “we count on the international community to support ECOWAS to resolve the problem.”
President Kufuor made the appeal when the Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines, Mr M. Mas R. Umpa, called on him at the Castle, Osu, in Accra yesterday. Ambassador Umpa, who is based in Abuja, Nigeria, is accredited to 20 African countries including Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
He was in the country to seek the support of Ghana for the non-permanent membership of Philippines on the United Nations Security Council, and the evacuation of Filippinos in Cote d’Ivoire as well as discussions to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
President Kufuor assured the Ambassador that Ghana will offer the necessary assistance for the evacuation of the 94 Filippinies trapped in the troubled country should the need arise.
He charged the Ministries of the Foreign Affairs of the two countries to work out modalities for the strengthening of relations between the two countries.
Ambassador Umpa, on his part, expressed the hope that the situation in Cote d’Ivoire would be brought under control soon. He said co-operation in the areas of agriculture and the supply of manpower would help boost relations.
In another development, the French Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Jean Michel Berrit, led a three-member French delegation to the Castle.
The delegation is in charge of the “Reinforcement of African Capacity to maintain Peace.” Briefing journalists after the meeting, Mr Berrit disclosed that the meeting discussed peace keeping in Africa.
He announced that a joint exercise in the fields of military and peace keeping will be organised for Ghana and Benin. This, he said, will be attended by ECOWAS, European Union and African countries saying that similar exercises have been held in Tanzania, Central African Republic and Senegal.
Present at the meeting were, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Nana Akufo-Addo, Minister of Defence, Dr Kwame Addo-Kuffuor and Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State at the Presidency.