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Five envoys present letters of credence to President Mahama
The President of the Republic, John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday March 13, 2025, received the Letters of Credence of five Envoys at a ceremony held at the Jubilee House.
At the ceremony to present their credentials were H. E. Ms. Laura Ranalli, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy, H. E. Mr. Julio Enrique Pujol Torres, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, H. E. Mrs. Musu Jatu Ruhle, Ambassador of Republic of Liberia.
The rest were H. E. Dr. Abdulla Murad Sulaiman Mohammed Al Mandoos, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, and H. E. Mr. Ali Ghomshi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
During the ceremony, the envoys congratulated John Dramani Mahama for his election to the Presidency and expressed their excitement to be serving in Ghana.
The envoys enumerated several programmes they would be executing in collaboration with the Government as they took turns to present their Letters of Credence.
Additionally, the envoys, assured the President of their cooperation and collaboration during their tenure to further deepen the ties between Ghana and their respective countries.
President Mahama welcomed and congratulated the Envoys on their appointments, stating that he was looking forward to more fruitful collaborations with their respective countries, which he envisaged would grow during their tenures in Ghana.
He mentioned that Ghana was looking forward to partnerships in the agribusiness sector to reduce food inflation, improve value addition, especially with cocoa and sugar production.
He informed the envoys that Ghana was in the process of initiating the signing of the Ghana Labour Export Programme agreement with her various partners, where trained Ghanaian youth would be sent abroad to legally work to curb exploitation and trafficking.
Other areas raised included the formalisation of the export of gold through the Gold Board, the revamping of the national airline, among others.
In the health sector the President sought for partnerships in completing and managing the uncompleted hospitals to augment the quality and availability of health care delivery in the country.
Concerning peace and security, the President encouraged collaboration to help countries in the Sahel Region to mitigate terrorist activities and maintain lasting peace in the region and the ECOWAS Sub-Region.
The ceremony ended with the newly accredited Envoys reaffirming their commitment to upholding the good and friendly relations that exists between Ghana and their various countries.
Also present at the ceremony were, the Chief of Staff, Mr. Julius Debrah, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama and the Legal Counsel to the President, Mrs. Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew, Officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government officials.
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Invest in the welfare of children – UNICEF
The Country Representative for United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ghana, Mr. Osama Makkawi Khogali, has urged the government and other stakeholders to invest more in the welfare of children.
He explained that Africa was home to a growing number of children, and by the year 2050, four out of every 10 children in the world will live in Africa.
This, he said, was a major reason why more investments are needed in children’s education, health, nutrition, safety, digital access, and job training.
Mr Khogali said this in a statement copied to The Spectator in Accra on Monday June 16 to commemorate the Day of the African Child.
Every year on June 16, the Day of the African Child is celebrated to remember the brave children of the 1976 Soweto Uprising in South Africa. These children stood up against unfair education and fought for their rights. Today, the day reminds everyone to stand up for the rights and welfare of African children.
Mr. Khogali said, “we must act now so that children would not only survive but grow and succeed. Africa’s future is global, and it begins with the children of today.”
The Country Representative for UNICEF said, in Ghana, children make up about 45 per cent of the country’s population, indicating that the future of Ghana depends heavily on how well children were supported and protected today.
He therefore called on governments, communities, families, and individuals to work together and make sure every child has access to good education, health care, safety, and opportunities.
“Helping children now is the smartest way to build a strong and successful country,” he added.
UNICEF is the world’s leading children’s organisation. It works in over 190 countries to protect children’s rights and ensure that every child has the chance to live, grow, and reach their full potential.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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First Lady, Lordina Mahama address 7th Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit in Dubai
The First Lady of the Republic of Ghana on Wednesday, June 18, addressed the prestigious 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit in Dubai.
The programme held at Hilton Hotel was attended by First Ladies from about 15 African and Asian countries.
The First Lady shared insights on strengthening healthcare systems, empowering women, and celebrating the impactful partnership between Ghana and the Merck Foundation over the past 13 years.
Mrs Mahama also underscored the critical role of First Ladies as Ambassadors for the “More Than a Mother” campaign, working to break the stigma around infertility and promote gender equality.
At the Committee Meeting held on Thursday, June 19, Mrs.Lordina Mahama through her presentation showed video documentary of her varied projects aimed at impacting lives.
The documentary showcased her extensive works in Education, health and other sectors of the country.
This received applauds and commendation from her colleague First Ladies and leadership of Merck Foundation.
Expressing gratitude to the Merck Foundation, she reiterated her and the Lordina Foundation’s commitment to strengthening collaboration for enhanced initiatives in health, education, and combating social stigma across Ghana.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme, Dubai
