The Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has inaugurated the Governing Council of the Foreign Service Institute. The FSI, established in 2023, aims to provide professional training for Foreign Service Officers and other public officials representing the country both locally and across the borders.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held today, Friday, May 9, 2025, the Minister underscored the critical importance of a highly skilled diplomatic service in an increasingly interconnected and complex world, outlining the ambitious vision for the FSI, positioning it as the nation’s leading institution for diplomatic training, research, and policy innovation.
The Institute’s reach, he revealed will extend beyond traditional training for Foreign Service Officers, eventually serving senior civil and public service staff, media persons and diplomats from other countries within the region and beyond.
“As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, and as the global geopolitical landscape grows more complex, it has become imperative for Ghana to put forth highly skilled and intellectually grounded diplomatic agents in pursuit of its foreign interest,” he stated, the vision we hold for the Foreign Service Institute is one of ambition and transformation. We envisage the FSI becoming a centre of excellence for diplomatic training and research on the African continent, a hub where African diplomats, public officials, academics, and policy practitioners can converge to deliberate on pressing issues, generate Afrocentric perspectives, and craft solutions to Africa’s collective challenges.”
The Minister elaborated that looking ahead, plans are in motion to secure Cabinet approval for the FSI to transition to an autonomous or semi-autonomous status. This strategic move, according to him will provide the institute with the operational flexibility and administrative independence needed to expand its activities, forge deeper international partnerships, and attract sustainable funding.
He disclosed that since its establishment, the Foreign Service Institute has made commendable strides, highlighting its achievements in the first quarter of the year 2025. He says the Institue has successfully convened high-level policy dialogues, delivered orientation and pre- posting briefings for newly recruited Foreign Service Officers and Officers on Ghana’s mission abroad respectively, advanced plan for
language training as well as hosting the International Forum on Diplomatic Training as preparations are underway to welcome the diplomatic community come 2027.
“As we prepare to welcome the global diplomatic community to Accra in 2027, we envision the FSI evolving into a leading African think tank—a repository of Afrocentric diplomatic knowledge, a champion of African agency, and an incubator of innovative ideas for the continent’s future global positioning,” Ablakwa emphasized.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa extended his congratulations and appreciation to the newly appointed members of the Governing Council, highlighting their crucial role in guiding the Institute’s future and reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, to strengthening the FSI and providing the necessary resources for it to achieve its vision.
“The effectiveness of our nation’s diplomacy is fundamentally anchored in the calibre of the professionals who represent us. The Foreign Service Institute serves as the crucible in which this diplomatic excellence is nurtured, honed, and actualised,” the Minister stated. “I therefore entrust the stewardship of this vital vision to your distinguished care, with full confidence in your capacity to provide principled, visionary, and exemplary leadership.”
He asserts that the inauguration of the Governing Council marks a pivotal moment for Ghana’s diplomatic aspirations, signaling a commitment to building a forward-looking, responsive, and distinguished Foreign Service that champions Ghana and Africa’s voice and interests on the global stage.
The new Council is chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. Other members are Amb. Ramses J. Cleland, Amb. Philibert I.K.A Johnson, Amb Jane Gasu, Amb. Muhammed Adam, Amb. Grant Ntrakwa, Amb. Agnes Aggrey Orleans Mr. Fred Amissah, Mr. Kofi Sarfo Akyea, Mr, Clarence Amoatey, Madam Gina Apenteng, Hon. Sabastian Deh, and Hon. Kwame Gakpey.
Story by: Eric Boateng
