Accra, Ghana – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, in collaboration with the Diplomatic Affairs and Media Communications Limited (DAMC), held the inaugural Diplomatic Honours event on September 14, 2024, to recognize individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to Ghana’s foreign relations.
The theme of the event, “Leveraging Diplomacy for Industrialisation, Sustainable Development, Peace and Security,” emphasized the crucial role of diplomacy in driving economic growth and fostering global cooperation.
Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey highlighted the event’s significance as a milestone in the ministry’s tradition of celebrating individuals and institutions in foreign relations. She noted that the Diplomatic Honours were not only to recognize Foreign Service Officers but also Ghanaian nationals and institutions that have made notable contributions to Ghana’s diplomacy.
The Lebanese Ambassador to Ghana and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Maher Kheir, emphasized the vital role of diplomats in promoting global understanding, peace, and cooperation. He underscored the importance of diplomats as bridges between nations, guiding conversations, negotiations, and collaborations that shape the shared future of an increasingly interconnected world.
The highlight of the Diplomatic Honours was the presentation of twenty-two awards to deserving individuals and institutions. Notable recipients included President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the Year of Return Initiative, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for Excellence in Cultural Diplomacy, and Kofi Annan for Lifetime Achievement in Diplomacy.
Other award recipients recognized for their contributions to peace, security, sustainable development, sports diplomacy, public diplomacy, and economic diplomacy. The event was attended by members of the Diplomatic Corps, notable Ghanaian diplomats, government officials, and traditional and religious leaders.
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