Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Professor Kwaku Danso Boafo has embarked on a tour of the United Kingdom to meet Ghanaians and institutions with interest in Ghana.
The tour among other things is to disabuse the minds of the people of the routinely high level of mistrust in the staff at the High Commission and to forge cooperation between the people and the mission.
So far, he has met the Ghanaian communities in London, Liverpool and some other ethnic and religious groups. He has also held talks with institutions like the Commonwealth Business Council, The Ghana International Bank, The managements of Hope University and the Merseyside Police in Liverpool
In London and Liverpool, the High Commissioner paraded almost all top officials of the Commission before the people and urged them to be dedicated, professional and committed to the people they have assigned to serve.
At the London forum for instance, he requested all top officials present to distinctively identify themselves and explain categorically their duties and roles for the Ghanaian community in London and the general public to acquaint themselves with their specific duties.
The “self identification parade” which did not leave any official out started from the Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs. Elizabeth Nicol, who had arrived in London to assume duty barely five days to the event. She introduced her self and outlined her duties and roles.
A detailed introduction of the High Commissioner had earlier been made by an eminent citizen of Ghana, Dr. Emmanuel Akkufo who chaired the function.
Addressing the gathering later, Professor Danso Boafo explained his action to mean that there was the urgent need for the officials to be accountable and responsible to the people.
“I want you to know them and even identify their voices so that when you even call them on phone you will be able to know who you are talking to, and I expect them to give you the outmost respect and courtesy when they are dealing with you.” He told the enthusiastic gathering.
The High Commission in some occasions had been found wanting even in the eyes of government. During his official visit to the UK in May this year, President John Atta Millis lamented over reports he had received, tinting the image of the Commission when he addressed the staff.
Professor Danso Boafo intimated that the whole business of the staff of the commission was to seek, promote and protect the welfare of Ghanaians in the UK, adding that “we have no other business here than to serve the people.”
He asked the staff to adopt what he described as the “servant doctrine” approach where the staff will see themselves as servants of the people and not to lord over them. He stressed that serving the people with dignity will not only bring honour to them but will also help them achieve job satisfaction.
He asked the staff and the people to put behind them the past and forge out a new relationship and work towards the welfare of the people and the total development of Ghana.
Professor Danso Boafo told members of the Ghanaian community to reciprocate the respect and courtesy from the staff. He asked them to report any official who will not live up to expectation for his office to conduct investigations and take action.
“We should not fail in our duties, we need to be able to deliver and serve the people very well.” He noted amidst applause from the gathering.
He praised his predecessors for their good work and said, “We are going to build on their achievements where necessary.” He said his office will operate an open door policy because “we can not do this work alone and we need to let every Ghanaian living in the UK feels involved”.
According to the High Commissioner he will continue the weekly surgeries for individual Ghanaians with issues and problems as well as the quarterly community fora which were introduced by his predecessors and find means of improving on them to the benefit of the community.
He also stressed the need for the people to be law abiding whiles living in a foreign land and promised them of the Commission’s support in all endeavours.
Professor Danso Boafo called for unity among the people stating that “without it let’s forget all that we are doing.”
He said the elections were over and the people should look onto each other as brothers who are aiming at one goal. “We have many things that unify us than the very few ones that divide us as lovely countrymen.” He emphasised
The Chairman of the Ghana Union, Mr. Kwame Adu announced that the union has embarked on a project to acquire a community centre for Ghanaians in the UK and called on all to help make the project a reality
