Ghana diplomatic Missions new policy intervention
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s Foreign Minister, has announced a reform directed at restoring professionalism and responsiveness across Ghana’s diplomatic missions.
His actions follow a wave of public complaints and disturbing revelations about poor service delivery.
According to the Foreign Minister on X, he has taken notes of all justified grievances about the lack of responsiveness and discourteous conduct at some Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad and promised that such won’t continue under his watch.
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He acknowledged the frustration of some Ghanaians abroad who have experienced disrespect, unresponsiveness, and inefficiency at some embassies and consulates, citing Prof. Kojo Dei’s article.
All your justified grievances about the lack of responsiveness and discourteous conduct at some of Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad have been duly noted.
I should also indicate that I read with considerable outrage Prof. Kojo Dei’s article on his rather displeasing experience at two of our missions in the past. Such condemnable conduct won’t be allowed on my watch
Ablakwa revealed that his outfit has taken keen measures to sweep unprofessionalism, corruption, and unresponsiveness at some Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad by introducing a reform to impose a new era of accountability and service.
Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa outlines Ghana diplomatic Missions new policy intervention to ereadicate unprofessionalism, unresponsiveness and corruption
According to him, while several Ghana’s missions abroad are operating with high professionalism and excellence, there are a few that have consistently failed to meet accountability.
“As Foreign Minister, even though this worrying state of affairs predates my tenure, I take full responsibility and hereby assure that decisive measures are being taken to remedy the situation, consistent with President Mahama’s RESET Agenda,” he added.
The Foreign Minister has taken bold steps to eradicate unresponsiveness and unprofessionalism at Ghana’s missions abroad by when he outlined a comprehensive list of new policy interventions that includes;
- A new code on how all those who engage with our missions should be treated has been developed.
- Directives on the reconfiguration of phone systems to allow for the accommodation of multiple simultaneous calls have been issued.
- All official phone calls to our embassies, high commissions, and consulates will now be recorded for periodic review by management to assess levels of professionalism and consular empathy.
- Mechanisms have been put in place with service providers to conduct regular verification to ascertain if calls from the general public are being responded to by embassy officials.
- Strict protocols of responsiveness and accessibility are being made part of our novel KPIs for soon-to-be-appointed Ambassadors and High Commissioners.
- Officials whose conduct falls short of the prescribed standards of responsiveness and acceptable consular relations will face appropriate sanctions.
