Papa Owusu-Ankomah ends his UK and Ireland service tour

Diasporian news for Saturday, September 26, 2020

Source: Atinka online

2020-09-26

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, High Commissioner of Ghana to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with simultaneous accreditation to the Republic of Ireland, has successfully completed his term of service and is returning to Ghana with much experience and enthusiasm to contribute positively to the development. and Ghana’s growth in realizing the presidential agenda of “Ghana Beyond Aid”.

It should be remembered that Papa Owusu-Ankomah was one of the first High Commissioners / Ambassadors that the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, commissioned to represent the interests of Ghana in the UK.

Having been mandated by the President to represent him in the United Kingdom with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Ireland, and to promote the interests of Ghana, protect the interests of the Ghanaians in his jurisdiction, Papa Owusu-Ankomah served his term with distinction and was acquitted . excellently.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah arriving in Ghana on Saturday September 26, 2020, leaves the shores of the United Kingdom with a great void, having positively projected the image of Ghana in the United Kingdom and Ireland, culminating with several successful reciprocal VVIP visits between both countries. . Notable among these VVIP visits is the most recent by the President of the Republic of Ghana to the UK, where he, along with twenty-two (22) other African countries, participated in the first UK-Africa Investment Summit.

On the UK side, his capable leadership saw the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles and his wife visit Ghana.

These are just some of the VVIP visits that can be mentioned. Visits and other high-level meetings facilitated by Papa Owusu-Ankomah have witnessed the deepening of bilateral relations between Ghana and the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

After notifying the UK diplomatic community of his departure, several leaders of the diplomatic community tried to meet him to say goodbye. On the occasion of the COVID-19 pandemic, he granted an audience to most of the diplomatic corps virtually.

The Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, Alistair Harrison CMG CVO, asked Mr. Owusu-Ankomah to bid him farewell and took the opportunity to present the High Commissioner with a farewell gift from the Queen, which was a photograph of the Queen and Prince Felipe. the Duke of Edinburgh. He has warm words of inspiration to the High Commissioner for the deepest relations between Ghana and the United Kingdom and the excellent work done by the High Commissioner. He also wishes the High Commissioner the best in his future endeavors.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, as per usual practice, asked the UK Minister for Africa, Mr. James Dundridge, who represented the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development, Rt. Hon. Dominic Raab.

Minister James Duddridge recalled the excellent relations that exist between Ghana and the United Kingdom, which had more recently enjoyed further momentum due to the effective and prominent role that the High Commissioner played during his tenure. More importantly, the Minister recalled the participation of the President of Ghana in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the UK-Africa Summit, both held in London in April 2018 and January 2020, respectively, and expressed deep gratitude to the High Commissioner. for institutionalizing his good deeds from rich experience that has led to countless highlights of his stay in the UK

The High Commissioner also requested the Secretary General of the Commonwealth family, Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization, Mr. Kitack Lim, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, His Excellency Khaled Abdulaziz Al-Duwaisan GCVO , and the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, Estifanos Habtemariam Ghebreyesus.

The theme that ran through all the meetings was the excellent working relationships, the bond of friendship that the leaders had with Mr. Owusu-Ankomah. All the leaders had the same opinion on how Papa Owusu-Ankomah projected Ghana in the spotlight of the diplomatic community in London, which is considered one of the largest diplomatic communities in the world.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, for his part, was very appreciative of the immense support he received from the leaders of the diplomatic community in the performance of his duties and the bilateral and multilateral relations that had deepened over the 180 years. -Five (185) diplomatic missions to the United Kingdom. He stressed that he was leaving with a lot of experience, positive lessons and good memories.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah proceeds on leave before the end of his tour of duty on November 30, 2020.