President John Mahama swore in 18 new Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and protocol officers on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at the Jubilee House, marking the first batch of diplomatic appointments for the year.
The envoys, tasked with representing Ghana in key global capitals, were urged to uphold integrity and drive a strategic shift to reduce the country’s $15 million annual expenditure on renting diplomatic properties abroad.
The newly appointed envoys include:
Mrs. Sabah Zita Benson – High Commissioner-designate, London, United Kingdom
Mr. Victor Emmanuel Smith – Ambassador-designate, Washington D.C., USA
Ms. Mavis Ama Frimpong – Ambassador-designate, Paris, France
Mr. Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed – High Commissioner-designate, Abuja, Nigeria
Dr. Koma-Steem Jehu Appiah – Ambassador-designate, Moscow, Russian Federation
Mr. Kojo Bonsu – Ambassador-designate, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
Alhaji Hammed Rashid Tunde Ali – Ambassador-designate, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Professor Ohene Adjei – Ambassador-designate, Berlin, Germany
Alhaji Abdul Nasiru-Deen – Ambassador-designate, Ankara, Turkey
Dr. Margaret Miewien Chebere – Ambassador-designate, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mr. Labik Joseph Yaani – Ambassador-designate, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Nii Amasah Namoale – Ambassador-designate, Brasilia, Brazil
Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso – High Commissioner-designate, New Delhi, India
Ambassador Samuel Yao Kumah – Ambassador-designate, New York, USA
Mr. Godwin Baletum Amonzem – Ambassador-designate, Monrovia, Liberia
Mr. Aikins Abrokwa – Ambassador in-Situ designate, Director of State Protocol
Mr. Gustav Kwaku Sefe Dovlo – Ambassador in-Situ designate, Chief of Protocol
Mrs. Patience Kokui Gameli-Kwame – Ambassador-at-Large designate, Deputy Director General, Research Department
Addressing the envoys, President Mahama emphasized fiscal responsibility, stating, “Integrity must be your watchword.
The Public Financial Management Act and all relevant regulations must guide your stewardship of public resources.” He highlighted the unsustainable cost of renting diplomatic properties, noting, “Ghana cannot continue spending a staggering more than $15 million every year on renting properties abroad for our diplomatic use.”
To address this, Mahama announced the STRIDE initiative (Strategic Transition from Rental to Developing Properties), approved by Cabinet to transition missions to Ghana-owned properties.
“A transaction advisor has been appointed, standard designs are being developed, and funding mechanisms are already being negotiated,” he revealed, tasking the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Finance to resolve the issue urgently.
The initiative aims to reduce wasteful expenditure and enhance Ghana’s dignity on the global stage.
The President underscored the need for close coordination between missions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other government agencies to ensure the success of Ghana’s foreign policy agenda. “The reset agenda is a shared enterprise,” he noted, urging the envoys to promote efficiency, service, and ethical governance abroad.
The appointments come amid heightened public interest, with posts on X praising the inclusion of experienced figures like Victor Emmanuel Smith and Baba Jamal while others questioned the timing, given Ghana’s economic challenges.
The swearing-in ceremony marks a significant step in bolstering Ghana’s diplomatic presence, with the second batch of envoys expected to be announced soon.
