Master Editor’s Opinion
Just six months before the next election, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo appointed his former Executive Secretary, Nana Bediatuo Asante, as Ambassador-at-large, raising serious concerns and objections. Public discussion about the reasoning for and possible benefits of this action has been sparked. Such an appointment, according to critics, appears to put political patronage ahead of the interests of the country.
In this case, the necessity and timing of Bediatuo’s appointment pose serious concerns because the position of Ambassador-at-Large is sometimes ambiguous. With just six months left before the election, it is doubtful how much of an influence Bediatuo can actually make in that short amount of time. Furthermore, he has the same rights and obligations as Ghana’s actual ambassadors when they travel overseas. Many people are worried about whether this appointment is a wise use of public dollars given the nation’s stretched financial resources.
These worries are heightened by skepticism about the past appointees’ performance. For instance, there are still unanswered issues around Dr. Edward Mahama, who was named a PNC ambassador plenipotentiary in 2017. Many people don’t know if he is still employed or what specific accomplishments he has made since taking office. These doubts highlight a larger lack of confidence in the efficiency and responsibility of such diplomatic positions.
Along with Bediatuo, a number of other ambassadors have been appointed to key positions in Turkey, Belgium, Morocco, Norway, Ethiopia, and the African Union. These include Vice Admiral Seth Amoama to Nigeria, Mrs. Francisca Ashietey-Oduntun to South Africa, Mr. Ernest Yaw Amporful to Rwanda, and others. The responsibility of representing Ghana in different nations and international organizations falls on these appointees, who include three High Commissioners, five Ambassadors, and one Ambassador-at-Large. The strategic justification for these selections is still unknown, though.
In his description of the duties of these envoys, President Akuffo-Addo emphasized the need of working with host nations on shared priorities, including preventing illicit financial flows from Africa and fighting armed conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism, and climate change challenges. However, considering that the current government’s term is coming to an end, concerns are raised regarding whether these targets can be accomplished in the next six months. Furthermore, worries about the financial burden of running these diplomatic posts during a time of national financial hardship still exist.
These recent ambassadorial appointments have drawn criticism from Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, a former senior governance advisor at the UN and co-founder of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), who claims that they put party loyalists’ aspirations for ambassadorial positions ahead of Ghana’s actual diplomatic needs. Many people share this viewpoint because they believe that these choices are reckless and self-serving, particularly in light of the nation’s economic difficulties. Critics contend that the government prioritizes advancing its narrow political objectives over the welfare of the country, seemingly oblivious to the substantial economic impact of its actions.
The timing and character of these appointments highlight the urgent need for greater accountability and openness in governmental choices as Ghana gets closer to the next election. To guarantee that the nation’s resources are used efficiently and responsibly, the government must put national interests ahead of political expediency.
