President John Dramani Mahama used Thursday’s credentialing ceremony for five new envoys to underscore Ghana’s strategic priorities: deepening economic ties, expanding tourism links, and strengthening regional security.
At the Presidential Credentials Hall, the ambassadors—Mrs. Maria Da Conceicao De Souse Pilar (Portugal), Mr. Conrad Vincent Mederic (Seychelles), Mr. Jesús Albert García (Venezuela), Mr. Gonfouli Souariba (Chad), and Mr. Maximin Mangoualamangoye (Gabon)—formally began their missions to Ghana.
Tourism and Air Connectivity
Welcoming Portugal’s envoy, President Mahama highlighted the recent launch of direct flights by TAP Air Portugal to Accra. “This new route brings Portuguese tourists closer to Ghana’s cultural and natural attractions,” he said, adding that Ghana plans to revive its own national carrier and looks forward to Portuguese partnership in that effort.
Economic Engagement
President Mahama urged each envoy to play an active role in attracting investors. “Ghana is open for business. We want to grow trade with Portugal, expand agricultural and energy partnerships with Venezuela, and explore opportunities with Seychelles, Chad, and Gabon in mining, fisheries, and infrastructure,” he told the diplomats.
Regional Security Cooperation
Turning to West Africa’s security challenges, President Mahama reaffirmed Ghana’s coordination with European and American partners to counter violent extremism in the Sahel. He also noted his appointment of a Special Envoy to engage ECOWAS member states that have paused their participation, aiming to rebuild trust and collective action.
Ambassadors’ Response
Mrs. Pilar praised Ghana’s leadership of the Accra Initiative—a regional security pact—and pledged Portugal’s support for peace and stability in West Africa. The other envoys, in turn, expressed readiness to leverage their governments’ resources to back Ghana’s development goals and regional initiatives.
By combining calls for enhanced tourism links, targeted investment, and coordinated security efforts, Ghana’s leadership signaled a holistic approach to diplomacy—one that aligns bilateral engagements with the nation’s economic and stability imperatives.
