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Prez Mahama launches KPIs for envoys at foreign affairs ministry ambassadors conference
High Commissioners, Ambassadors, Permanent Representatives and Consuls-General from Ghana’s missions across the world have gathered in Accra for the 2025 Conference of Heads of Mission.
The five-day event, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, is being held under the theme “Harnessing the Dividends of Diplomacy for Ghana’s Reset Agenda.”
It is aimed at creating a platform for engagement between Ghana’s Heads of Mission and relevant stakeholders.
The highlight of the opening ceremony was the launch of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for foreign missions by President John Dramani Mahama.
The President in his address indicated that the KPIs would be used to measure performance, ensure accountability, and strengthen the delivery of Ghana’s foreign policy objectives.
He explained that Ghana’s envoys would now be judged by results such as the scale of investments, trade opportunities, and partnerships they help secure for the country rather than protocol or ceremonial duties.
Mr. Mahama reminded the envoys that the Reset Agenda was not only about reforms at home but also about reshaping Ghana’s presence abroad.
He said the country’s foreign missions must evolve into hubs of economic engagement, tasked with attracting investment, expanding export markets, mobilising the diaspora, and promoting innovation.
He urged envoys to embody integrity, professionalism, and efficiency in their work, stressing that the credibility of Ghana’s diplomacy was inseparable from the credibility of governance.
According to him, the distinction between foreign and domestic policy had become increasingly blurred in today’s interconnected world, and agreements reached abroad would have direct impacts on Ghanaian communities.
On global affairs, the President cautioned that the world had become increasingly uncertain, with shifting power blocs and geopolitical rivalries.
He urged Ghanaian diplomats to be strategic, resilient, and ready to adapt to rapid changes in the international arena.
Touching on values, President Mahama observed that Ghana and many African countries needed to draw lessons from nations like Singapore and Japan, which had achieved progress without abandoning their traditional values.
He called for a mindset reset in Ghana, saying discipline, honesty, and responsible citizenship must be revived, particularly among the younger generation.
The President outlined the eight focus areas for the KPIs, including economic diplomacy, consular services, diaspora engagement, financial management, and ethical compliance.
He mentioned that these would mark a new era where Ghana’s foreign service would be transparent, accountable, and results-driven.
Chairing the ceremony, the Ga Mantse, His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, congratulated the envoys on their appointments, reminding them that they carried Ghana’s brand of integrity, dignity, and rich cultural identity.
He emphasized that their mission was to build bridges, engage the diaspora, and promote trade and investment in line with government’s transformation agenda.
The Ga Mantse welcomed the introduction of the KPIs, describing it as a shift from ceremonial diplomacy to a results-oriented global approach.
He urged the envoys to reflect Ghana’s values of respect, hospitality, and discipline while being sensitive to the cultures of their host nations.
He called for greater emphasis on cultural diplomacy, reciprocal visa arrangements, efficient support for Ghanaian students abroad, and increased efforts to boost intra-African trade.
The Ga Mantse stressed that Ghana’s diplomacy must deliver tangible benefits including jobs for the youth, markets for farmers, technology for innovators, dignity for citizens abroad, and prosperity for all.
The 2025 Conference of Heads of Mission runs from September 1 to September 5, 2025, in Accra.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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