Five newly appointed envoys from France, Angola, Namibia, South Sudan, and China on Monday formally presented their Letters of Credence to President John Dramani Mahama at the Credentials Hall of the Presidency.
The diplomats included Madam Diarra Dime Labille, Ambassador of France; Mr. Rui Orlando Ferraira De Ceita Da Silva Xaxier, Ambassador of Angola; Madam Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, High Commissioner of Namibia; Madam Jacquiline Natepi Ben Lochalamoi, Ambassador of South Sudan; and Mr. Cong Song, Ambassador of China.
In his remarks, President Mahama reiterated Ghana’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations with friendly nations worldwide.
He particularly thanked Angola, Namibia, South Sudan, and China for supporting Ghana at the recent UN General Assembly vote to adopt the resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity.”
The resolution, tabled by President Mahama as the African Union Champion for Reparations, is expected to pave the way for healing, justice, and reparations.
President Mahama also highlighted Ghana’s long-standing relationship with China, rooted in historic ties between Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and China’s founding leaders, Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai.
“Our First President was overthrown on his way to Vietnam when he landed in China, and the Chinese offered him support until he relocated to Guinea. We share a lot of history,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Government for their crucial role in Ghana’s debt restructuring, which helped reduce the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio from over 60 percent to 45% by the end of last year.
The President added that macroeconomic stability, lower inflation, and rising foreign direct investment, particularly from China, were benefiting Ghanaian employment and private sector growth.
He also noted China’s growing investment in Ghana’s mining sector and reaffirmed the country’s support for the One China Policy.
Ambassador Cong Song extended warm greetings from President Xi Jinping, conveying China’s goodwill and friendship to Ghana. He congratulated President Mahama on Ghana’s leadership in submitting the UN resolution on the transatlantic slave trade. “This is a victory for Ghana, and this is a victory for Africa. China supports that, and will always stand firmly together with our African friends to correct historical injustice and uphold fairness and justice in the world,” he said.
The other envoys also pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Ghana and their respective countries, emphasizing their commitment to mutual development, peace, and diplomatic partnership.
Monday’s credentialing ceremony further reinforced Ghana’s commitment to nurturing diplomatic ties while leveraging international support for national development and historical justice initiatives.
