Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey
THE MAIDEN edition of Diplomatic Honours, an awards ceremony designed to recognise distinguished individuals and dignitaries around the world for their significant roles through diplomacy and international relations, has been held successfully.
Held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Saturday, September 14, 2024, the event was put together by the Diplomatic Affairs and Media Communications Limited (DAMC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MFARI), under the theme, ‘Leveraging Diplomacy for Industrialisation, Sustainable Development, Peace and Security.’
In her keynote address, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, noted that the theme for the event underscored the indispensable role diplomacy has played, and continues to play, in driving industrial growth across countries, particularly in an interconnected world.
She stressed that diplomacy remained the “most powerful” arsenal for negotiation and conflict resolutionin the face of conflicts that have plagued the world in recent times.
Executive Director of Diplomatic Affairs Media and Communications (DAMC), Ms. Harriet Nartey, in her speech stated that the “goal of the initiative is to celebrate diplomatic excellence,” while underscoring the importance of spotlighting individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions through diplomacy and international relations in fostering global peace.
Emphasising that the foreign policy of every country is crucial to its developmental agenda, she urged African countries to leverage relations with their development partners to promote trade and unlock the continent’s potential, adding that the event would be held annually to identify and celebrate the many individuals who by their works, are contributing to the noble cause of humanity through diplomacy.
Awards
A total of 22 awards were presented to deserving individuals and institutions on the night with the Office of the President leading the charts with the award for the Year of Return Initiative.
The Office of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, received the award for Excellence in Cultural Diplomacy, while former United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Busumuru Kofi Annan was posthumously awarded the Lifetime Achievement in Diplomacy award. Also, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, picked the award for Excellence in Peace and Security.
The office of Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II received the award for Excellence in Promoting the Sustainable Development Goals, while Ghanaian legendary footballer, Abedi Ayew Pele and Ghanaian singer and multiple Grammy nominee, Rocky Dawuni picked the Excellence in Sports Diplomacy and Excellence in Public Diplomacy awards respectively.
Dr. Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse, together with Mrs. Agnes Yahan Aggrey-Orleans were both recognised as the Global Diplomatic Stateswoman and Distinguished Career in Diplomacy respectively, with Major-General Henry Kwami Anyidoho (Rtd) being recognised for his Exceptional Leadership and Bravery in United Nations Peacekeeping.
The Global African of the Year award went to Boris Kodjoe; the Transformational Leadership in Diplomacy award went to Ambassador Annan Arkyin Cato, and the Returnee International Civil Servant Entrepreneur of the Year award went to Mr. Andrew Kwabena Asamoah.
Other awards on the night included Pioneering Diplomatic Training in Ghana, which went to Professor George Ofosu-Amaah; posthumously to Ambassador Joseph Quao Cleland and Ambassador Ato Wilson jointly.
The Delegation of the European Union to Ghana was recognised for their Special Measure on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies in Africa (MAV+) Programme, while the awards for Ghana’s Diplomatic Mission of the Year went to Ghana’s Mission in Vienna.
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, and Trade and Industry, jointly received recognition for their efforts in the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Ghana.
The Innovative Initiative for Networking and Youth Empowerment award went to Grace Jeanet Mason of South Africa while local giants, Kasapreko Distilleries, climaxed the ceremony by picking the award for Excellence in Economic Diplomacy.
By Nii Adjei Mensahfio