The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday held farewell luncheon in honour of the five departing Ambassadors who have completed their duty tour and to highlight their contributions towards Ghana’s bilateral relations.
They are; Mrs Pavelyn Tendai Musaka, Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps; Mr Babikir Elsidding Mohammed Elamin, Ambassador of the Republic of The Sudan, Mr Emmanuel Zeev Mehl, Ambassador of the State of Israel.
The rest are; Mr Robert P. Jackson, Ambassador of the United States of America and Mrs Umu Hawa Tejan-Jalloh, High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone.Ms Sherry Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, commended the Ambassadors for contributing to the strengthening of the relations between Ghana and their respective countries.
She said while Ghana continued to lay a solid foundation for the socio-economic transformation to make it more self-reliant, it would continue to count on their supports and that of their governments towards the realisation of the “Ghana Beyond Aid” initiative.
She said Ghana had a long standing, cordial and fraternal relations with the five countries, which led to new era of growth and progress in their bilateral relationships.Ms Botchwey expressed the hope that their successors would continue along the path they had charted and further solidify bilateral ties in all spheres for the mutual benefit of their peoples.
“It is time to say goodbye, but goodbyes while sometimes necessary can be sad. So I will say ‘hello’. Hello, to the adventures that you will all be embarking on in your next occupational incarnations. I wish you the best in your future endeavours,” she added.
All the departing Ambassadors were grateful for the government and the people of Ghana for their friendship and support during their duty tours and expressed the hope that all consultations and initiatives started during their tenure would be concluded for the benefits of the people.
Pavelyn Tendai Musaka, Outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe, used the occasion to handover the baton of Dean of Diplomatic Corps to Mr Bernard Ehui Kotoan, Ambassador of La Cote d’Ivoire.
In his acceptance speech, he thanked his predecessor for her dedication and sacrifice throughout her stay in Ghana.He said the former dean had represented the Diplomatic Corps with honour, dignity and responsibility, adding, “you have unquestionably worked for the consolidation of the bonds of friendship and fraternity, which bind so happily the members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Ghana…”.
To the departing Ambassadors, Mr Kotoan said their personal commitments, availability and dedication have greatly contributed to strengthening the excellent relations between diplomatic missions and Ghana and wished them well in their new occupations.