President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday inaugurated Mr Ken Kanda, immediate past Director of State Protocol, as Ghana's Ambassador
and Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
He administered the Oath of Office, Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Secrecy to the Envoy and presented him with the Scroll of Office.
President Mills invoked divine blessing on the Ambassador Designate for a successful duty tour.
"Ken, let Good Lord direct your steps; and I believe at the end of the day people will appreciate the sacrifices you have made,” President Mills said.
The President expressed his appreciation to Mr Kanda for his services to him and the nation, describing him as an excellent ambassador and director.
President Mills shared a joke before the beginning of the ceremony, when Kwame Tenkorang- Asamoah, the immediate past Ghana’s Ambassador to Japan, who takes over from Mr Kanda as Director of State Protocol, stood to introduce the envoy.
“This is a case of a doctor becoming a patient,” President Mills said, adding: “I have been fortunate in life, and also in politics to have worked with Mr Kanda.”
Mr Kanda, a career diplomat, took over from Mr Kwabena Wudu as Director of State Protocol on the assumption of the Mills Administration in 2009.
Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs,described the Ambassador Designate as an excellent team-player, with excellence as his trademark.
He urged him to work to maintain Ghana's respectable position at the UN.
Alhaji Mumuni said maintaining the respectable position at the UN would even be more challenging because Ghana had carved a respectable high profile image for itself, and its human resource pedigree was still high at the
world body.
He urged the Ambassador Designate to maintain the enviable record and acquit himself creditably in his new position.
Mr Henry Martey Newman, Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, who described Mr Kanda as humble centred personality, urged him to reflect the President's whole leadership personality of selfless service.
"May you live to espouse the ideals of the President and keep the Ghana flag flying higher," Mr Newman said.
Mr Kanda thanked President Mills for the opportunity to serve Ghana in the capacity as Director of State Protocol and his new position.