President Akufo-Addo in a photograph with the members of the Council on Foreign Relations, Ghana. Picture By Gifty Ama Lawson.
President Akufo-Addo yesterday inaugurated the Council on Foreign Relations, Ghana (CFR-Ghana).
The council is registered as a private company limited by guarantee with the objective to undertake research into Ghana’s foreign policy and international relations and organise seminars, workshops and conferences on international issues.
It has also been mandated to publish memoirs of retired diplomats and other professionals, books and articles on international issues and create a platform for visiting dignitaries to share their perspectives on public and international issues.
Speaking at the launch, President Akufo-Addo stressed that the establishment of the council would enhance Ghana’s foreign policy and asked the members to act as agents of change and shape national and global conversations since “foreign policy begins at home.”
The president also tasked the council to strive for excellence and pledged to support its activities.
Chairman for the occasion, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, commended the brains behind the setting up of the council for their efforts.
He considered it a giant leap for Ghana as a country and expressed the hope that the think-tank would become one of the most dependable institutions in Ghana, if not the world.
Mr Gbeho said the formation of the council was not just sheer coincidence, taking into account the president’s contribution to foreign service and diplomacy as former Minister of Foreign Affairs, describing him as a ‘quintessential diplomat.’
President of the Council, Ambassador D.K. Osei, said the organisation seeks to improve the reach of Ghana and outlined a number of upcoming programmes, including lectures.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, on her part, said the creation of the council would enable the country to extensively discuss its foreign policy.
She, therefore, stressed the need to bring other professionals on board to help enrich the discourse.
“This is to ensure that we speak with one voice on foreign policy,” she said, promising that the Foreign Ministry would support the council in that endeavour.
Members of the council include Ambassador D.K. Osei, Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere, Kojo Bengal-Enchill, Brigadier-General Francis Asiedu Agyemfra, Abraham Agbozo, Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, Egbert Faibille Jnr., Ambassador Lawrence Satuh and Dr Linda Opongmaa Darkwa.
Membership of the Council, which is upon recommendation and approval by the Executive Council, is open to diplomats, lawyers, media practitioners, bankers, finance experts, academicians, traditional leaders and other professionals, as well as corporate bodies, with categories such as ordinary, associate and honorary.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent