Member of Parliament for Abirem and former Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Charles Asuako Owiredu, has criticised President John Dramani Mahama’s recent nominations to Ghana’s foreign missions, questioning the recall of experienced career diplomats currently serving in key embassies.
President John Dramani Mahama has nominated 15 individuals for appointment as Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and Consul-Generals to represent Ghana abroad. The appointments affect several key missions, including Senegal, Spain, among others.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Monday, June 23, Mr. Owiredu expressed disappointment over the decision to replace Ambassador Vivian Kafui Asempapa (Senegal), Matilda Alomatu (Austria), and Regina Appiah-Sam (Spain), describing them as long-serving diplomats with more than two decades of experience in the foreign service.
He argued that these career diplomats have risen through the ranks and had only recently taken up their postings — some within the last three to eight months — making their recall unusual and unwarranted.
He further alleged that the affected diplomats were not formally informed of their replacement and speculated that the move may be politically motivated.
“Normally, when career officers are at post, unless that career officer has done something that is untoward, that is where you normally see them being recalled. When we came in in 2017, there were also diplomats who were already at post, working. We allowed them to finish their call of duty before new ambassadors were posted.
“My issue is, what have these ambassadors done? These people have been there some three months, others four months, some eight months. Why are you recalling them? What is even curious is that these ambassadors are not even aware that they are being replaced. Is it because President Akufo-Addo commissioned them?” he questioned.
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