President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the peaceful, fair, and orderly conduct of the 7 December 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections has consolidated Ghana’s enviable and globally recognised democratic credentials.
According to President Akufo-Addo, Ghana’s “unalloyed commitment to democracy has become a cornerstone of ’ national identity, and “the successful conduct of the presidential and parliamentary elections on Saturday, 7 December 2024 stands as a testament to the resilience of Ghana’s democracy.”
Akufo-Addo shared these thoughts when he addressed attendees of a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign and Regional Integration yesterday to officially commission the foreign ministry’s office complex annex, which was constructed to address the ministry’s office space challenges.
“The peaceful nature of the electoral process and the gracious concession of Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP presidential candidate, are powerful reminders that democracy remains the foundation of our progress and national unity. This moment should serve as a symbol of hope for the rest of the African continent, affirming that the will of the people must always prevail,” President Akufo-Addo remarked.
President Akufo-Addo observed that “during [his] tenure as President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instrumental in advancing [his administration’s] diplomatic successes.
He said these successes include promoting the successful bids to host the Secretariats of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Climate Vulnerable Forum here in Accra and securing Ghana’s two-year tenure on the United Nations Security Council.
He added that providing leadership during his two (2) successive terms as Chair of ECOWAS, amid unprecedented challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, whose effects were exacerbated by the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war, was also pivotal in the diplomatic successes of that period.
The President further noted that he “takes immense pride in the achievements of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, “who has made history as the first Ghanaian and the first African woman to serve as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations.”
“Her journey from serving as my deputy during the Kufuor administration, as one of the longest-serving substantive Ministers during my own administration, and becoming one of the most distinguished diplomats of our time is an inspiration to all. It affirms that Ghana’s daughters can reach the highest heights with hard work and determination,” Akufo-Addo said.
President Akufo praised the new six-storey annex building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, saying it “represents a bold statement of [Ghana’s] devotion to fostering diplomacy and enhancing the capacity of our Foreign Service.”
“It will provide the Ministry with the facilities it needs to continue shaping and implementing Ghana’s foreign policy effectively. As I cut the ribbon officially to commission this building, let us rededicate ourselves to the service of our nation. Let this new facility inspire greater productivity, innovation, and a renewed sense of purpose,” Akufo-Addo said.
“I am confident that this annex will enhance the Ministry’s capacity to deliver on its mandate and, by extension, contribute to the realization of our collective vision for a prosperous and self-reliant Ghana. May this new chapter in the Ministry’s history inspire even greater achievements in the years ahead,” the President further stated.
Speaking at the event, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and Secretary-General elect of the Commonwealth of Nations, indicated that the new edifice financed with funding from the Peoples Republic of China would go a long way toward solving the ministry’s office space challenges in recent years.
Ms. Botchwey indicated that the “new facility will house 142 office spaces, a basement car park equipped with a transponder access system, a flag room to proudly display the flags of all the countries with which Ghana maintains diplomatic relations, a clinic, a fitness centre, and a press centre seamlessly extending to a banquet hall for three hundred persons.”
“The Ministry’s annex building stands as a legacy of the Akufo-Addo administration. It reinforces the government’s commitment to enhancing the ministry’s operational capacity and strengthening our diplomatic engagement. This facility symbolises our dedication to fostering international cooperation and will serve as a cornerstone for future diplomatic activities,” Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said.
