Mills urges Ghana's envoys to seek national interest first

Accra, Oct. 12, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday charged Ghana's envoys to place the interest of the nation above personal interests in their diplomatic assignments.

He prayed for the success of the envoys and, with an expression of confidence in them, wished them the blessings of God. Swearing-in two new ambassadors at the Flagstaff House in Accra on Tuesday, President Mills wished Ghana's envoys success in their assignments wherever they found themselves.

The new Ambassadors are Mr Kingsley Karimu for Kenya, with oversight responsibility for Eritrea, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi and Mr Yaw Konadu Yiadom for Belgium. They swore to the Oath of Office, Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Secrecy administered by the President.

Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni urged them to support Government in its pursuit of people-centred policy in addition to economic diplomacy.

He reminded Mr Yiadom that Belgium was one of Ghana's flagship missions because of its position within the European Union. He said the EU was a strategic development partner to Ghana. According to Alhaji Mumuni, the negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreement had rather been protracted and suggested to Mr. Yiadom to bring his experience to bear on that Agreement. To Mr. Karimu, Alhaji Mumuni urged him to take advantage of the presence of the headquarters of the bodies of the United Nations like the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Human Settlement and conduct business on behalf of the President. He urged the Ambassadors-designate to bring the President's integrity, his conduct as a unifier and consensus builder to bear in the conduct of their diplomatic business.

Mr Yiadom on behalf of his colleague said they were greatly honoured by the appointment and assured the President that they would endeavour to reciprocate the faith he had in them by advancing Ghana's interest abroad.

They said they would work to promote trade, increase Foreign Direct Investment and tourism. 12 Oct. 10