TIG Post

Tag: Diplomatic Corps

  • Gov’t to invalidate unreturned diplomatic, service passports after March 17

    Gov’t to invalidate unreturned diplomatic, service passports after March 17

    The government has announced that all unreturned diplomatic and service passports will be rendered invalid after the March 17 deadline.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration issued the directive as part of efforts to recover passports issued under the previous administration that no longer comply with current regulations.

    In a press release dated March 10, the Ministry stated that individuals who fail to return these passports will be added to the Stop-Watch List, resulting in their immediate confiscation at Ghana’s borders.

    “Passports in the above categories not surrendered by the given deadline will be cancelled and placed on the Stop-Watch List for seizure at any of Ghana’s entry and exit points,” parts of the statement read.

    This measure follows a January 15, announcement and aligns with a presidential directive to review and retrieve outdated official passports.

    Despite repeated notices, 404 Diplomatic Passports and 387 Service Passports remain unreturned.

    The Ministry has urged former ministers and their spouses, ex-Members of Parliament from all political parties, former Council of State members and their spouses, as well as retired justices of the Superior and Lower Courts, to return their passports immediately.

    Other individuals required to comply include former regional ministers, metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives, former board chairs and members of state institutions, officials involved in the National Cathedral Project, and former political ambassadors along with their dependents.

    Additionally,entrepreneurs and individuals holding an official passport without an active state role are expected to surrender them within the time frame given.

  • Diplomatic Corps calls on Ga Mantse

    Members of the Diplomatic Corps in the country last Monday paid a courtesy call on the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, at the Ga Mantse Palace at North Kaneshie in Accra. 

    The visit was to strengthen the relationship between the diplomatic community in Ghana and the Ga Traditional Council for their mutual benefit.

    The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Mrs. Claudia Turbay Quintero, led the group, which included representatives of some international organisations in Ghana, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the African Union (AU).

    In the company of the visiting delegation were a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr. Charles Owiredu, and the Founder and Leader of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach, Rev. Dr. Lawrence Tetteh.

    Also present were a member of the Council of State, Mr. Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson; the Otublohum Mantse, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II; the Dzaasetse of the Ga Stool and Principal Kingmaker, Nii Dr. Tetteh Kwei II, and the Sempe Mantse, Nii Adote Otintor II.

    The visiting envoys were treated to a display of the rich Ga tradition and culture.

    Collaboration

    Mrs. Quintero, who is also the Colombian Ambassador to Ghana, said effective collaboration between traditional authorities and the Diplomatic Corps could become part of bilateral programmes of the diplomatic community.

    She thanked King Teiko Tsuru for hosting the delegation and said the invitation was an expression of his commitment to serve as an agent of development.

    “We acknowledge your influence and power within the traditional culture of Ghana where you preside over approximately four million people,” she said.

    She also said the visit offered a unique opportunity for the envoys and representatives of the international organisations to get closer to the traditional leadership, adding: “I am sure that those of us who find it possible to support some of the initiatives of the traditional authority will do so accordingly, and eventually we can create cooperation programmes to become part of the body of bilateral activities among our countries and Ghana.”

    Mrs. Quintero further said the visit marked the beginning of the establishment of a friendly dialogue between members of the Diplomatic Corps and the Ga Traditional Council.

    The visiting envoys made individual presentations to the traditional council.

    Girl-child education

    King Teiko Tsuru highlighted the importance of girl-child education to the development of the Ga State.

    “Our goal is basically to improve the transition of girl-child education from junior high school (JHS) to senior high school (SHS),” he said.

    According to him, the Ga Traditional Council, which he chairs, also intended to fund the training of girls in entrepreneurial skills in the area.
    He said there was the need to establish a technical committee to define a clear path on girl-child education.

    King Teiko Tsuru further called for support from the Diplomatic Corps to improve salt mining activities in Ada, cattle ranching in Sege, aquaculture and real estate development.

    Commitment

    For his part, Mr. Owiredu reaffirmed the commitment of the government to work together with traditional leaders for the accelerated development of the country.

    He thanked members of the Diplomatic Corps for extending courtesy to the traditional authority and described the move as a strategic partnership that would yield dividends for both the corps and the Ga State.

    Source: graphic.com.gh