From September 1, Ghana’s envoys will be judged not by protocol but by performance

Ghana is set to roll out a new performance assessment framework for its ambassadors and diplomats, beginning September 1, to ensure the country’s missions abroad deliver measurable economic results.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed the initiative at the Ghana Presidential Investment Forum held in Yokohama, Japan, on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

The forum was organised alongside the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9).

According to Mr. Ablakwa, President John Dramani Mahama has directed that Ghana’s diplomatic efforts must evolve beyond ceremonial functions to drive investments, create jobs, and directly impact the lives of citizens.

“For the first time in our history, on the 1st of September, the President will be launching the first of its kind, a novel KPI, Key Performance Indicators, for all ambassadors and diplomats from the Republic of Ghana. When you peruse that document, you will see that economic diplomacy is at the heart of it,” the Minister said.

The performance targets, he explained, will make envoys accountable for how well they attract investment, facilitate trade, and build investor confidence, with emphasis on translating those efforts into tangible benefits for the economy.

“The President wants our diplomacy to make an impact. Our diplomacy must lead to improvement in the lives of the people. Diplomacy must promote investment, and diplomacy must create a safe haven for all of those who invest in our country, and that is what the Foreign Ministry has been charged to do,” he stressed.

Mr. Ablakwa added that the government’s wider economic diplomacy drive is focused on achieving macroeconomic stability, boosting investor confidence, and fostering stronger partnerships across the globe. He pointed to Ghana’s improved sovereign ratings, a stabilised currency, and renewed investor interest as early results under the current administration.

Reassuring Japanese businesses, the Minister noted that their investments in Ghana remain safe and well-protected. He further indicated that the work of Ghana’s foreign missions will be aligned with national development goals so that citizens feel the impact through more jobs, trade opportunities, and infrastructure projects supported by external partnerships.

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