Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, has called for a stronger alignment between Ghana’s foreign policy machinery and its economic development agenda, urging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intensify its role in investment promotion and market expansion.
During a working visit to the Ministry on April 15, she stressed the need to leverage diplomatic channels to advance economic transformation, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). She indicated that opportunities in “market access” and “trade expansion” should be actively pursued to improve Ghana’s competitiveness within the continental market.
The Vice President charged the Ministry, through its agencies and directorates, to take a more coordinated lead in promoting AfCFTA implementation, positioning the country to attract increased investment and supporting the expansion of Ghanaian businesses into other African markets. She emphasised that diplomatic institutions must function as practical enablers of trade, not only policy actors, within the continental integration framework.
The visit is part of wider efforts by the government to strengthen institutional coordination and align public sector operations with national priorities in trade facilitation, investment promotion, and international economic partnerships.
She also noted the Ministry’s role in advancing Ghana’s foreign policy objectives, including its contribution to international advocacy efforts that secured support for a United Nations resolution describing the historical injustices of slavery as the “gravest crime against humanity.”
On domestic reforms, the Vice President pointed to the need to balance “institutional performance” with “staff wellbeing,” framing human capital development as central to sustained public sector efficiency and service delivery.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, described the engagement as a key moment of institutional interaction and outlined ongoing administrative and service reforms. These include the introduction of chip-embedded passports, reductions in passport processing fees, and expedited “one-day emergency” passport services.
He also cited the expansion of passport application centres across all sixteen regions and ongoing visa policy adjustments aimed at improving mobility and trade facilitation. According to him, multiple visa waiver arrangements are in progress, alongside plans to introduce visa-free travel for Africans effective May 2026, intended to support regional integration and economic activity.
The Ministry further indicated improvements in internal conditions of service, including enhanced allowances, revised working arrangements, and support measures for returning foreign service officers, as part of broader administrative reforms.
Chief Director Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu underscored the Ministry’s operational focus, emphasising “dedication to service” and alignment with national development objectives.
