VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS

Consistent with its constitutionally mandated responsibilities, "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and NEPAD exists to promote and protect the interest of Ghana and its citizens abroad and to enhance Ghana's security and prosperity through:

• Promoting friendly relations and economic cooperation between Ghana and other countries and enhancing Ghana 's image abroad;

• Promoting Ghanaian exports, tourism potential, attracting foreign investment for Ghana and enhancing scientific, technological and cultural links between Ghana and other States;

• Providing economic, political and security information and advise to Government;

• Providing consular service;

• Playing a positive and creative role as a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the Non Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth and other international organisations to which Ghana belongs;

• Upholding the rule of law in international affairs and seeking the establishment of a just and equitable international order;

• Providing supportive services to relevant MDAs and local NGOs in their work; and

• Assisting diplomatic missions, international organisations and foreign NGOs in the discharge of their legitimate duties in Ghana .

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and NEPAD seeks to carry out the foregoing through a dedicated, efficient, knowledgeable and patriotic staff.”

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

For the period under review, the following continued to be the six core objectives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and NEPAD as validated in the approved programme budget for the 2004 financial year;

• To promote and protect the interest of Ghana and its citizens abroad, and enhance Ghana's security and prosperity;
• To provide efficient and effective consular and legal services within and outside Ghana;
• To promote favourable conditions for Ghana's trade, foreign investments, tourism and to seek scientific, technological and cultural cooperation with other countries and institutions;
• To promote fruitful political and economic relations with all countries especially Ghana's neighboring countries in the interest of peace, stability and economic development;
• To play a positive and creative role in the international organisations to which Ghana belongs; and
• To upgrade the Ministry's human and institutional capacity for the efficient execution of Ghana's foreign policy objectives

FUNCTIONS

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and NEPAD core function is to advise and assist Government in the formulation and implementation of Ghana 's foreign policy objectives, including through proffering advice on policy option in response to unfolding international situations and events. The Ministry therefore, controls, directs and coordinates Ghana 's external relations and closely collaborates with other Ministries department and Agencies (MDAs) to facilitate the realisation of Government's agenda including efforts in the areas of trade and investment promotion.

In addition to the core functions carried out to achieve the objectives contained in the Mission Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and NEPAD the following functions are also undertaken:

. Dissemination of general information on Ghana within the international
community;

. Coordination of the interaction between the Government of Ghana and foreign
Governments

. Assistance to national security agencies in safeguarding and protecting the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ghana .

. Promotion and maintenance of international peace and security and the policy
of good neighbourliness with Ghana 's immediate neighbours;

. Assistance to key economic players in pursuing an accelerated rate of national
economic development;

. Issuance of passports and other travel documents; and

. Provision of protocol services;

ACHIEVEMENTS (SUMMARY):

The focused implementation of Ghana 's foreign policy objectives to the achievement, among of the following others:

Improved Relations with immediate Neighbours

Ghana 's vigorous pursuit of her good neighbourly policy of friendship and cooperation in the West African Sub-region culminated in the strengthening of relations with her immediate neighbours for mutual benefit.

Further, Ghana continued to support regional peacemaking efforts including the resolution of protracted conflicts within the sub-region, especially in La Cote d'Ivoire , Liberia and Guinea Bissau. Ghana also participated in various United Nations peacekeeping missions such as UNIFIL.

Enhanced influence within the wider African Settings

Ghana continued to maintain its influence within Africa through positive contributions towards Africa 's integration efforts and economic development. Ghana gained world-wide recognition and commendation for being the first African state to subscribe to the Africa Peer Review Mechanism of NEPAD.

Improved Goodwill And Support Within The Wider International Community

Ghana 's relations with countries outside the African Continent have witnessed a further strengthening. The initiative undertaken resulted, inter alia, in the effective mobilisation of development aid and technical assistance from various countries and institutions. On the whole, Ghana 's development partners extended generous support in the form of grants and debt relief within the context of Ghana 's participation in the HIPC Initiative.

At the multilateral level, Ghana participated effectively in debates on issues of international importance such as control of the movement of hazardous wastes, combating of illicit drug trafficking, and the impact of brain drain on the world's poor countries. In all these debates Ghana sought to project her interests, as well as those of developing countries in general.

Government's firm commitment to the rule of law and respect for human rights, good governance and democracy; it's recognition of the private sector as the engine of growth; and its support for Ghana's membership of, and constructive performance in, international organisations, all culminated in the positioning of Ghana on a pedestal, with an enhanced image on the international scene.

In pursuance of the policy of economic diplomacy the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Regional Cooperation and NEPAD through its Missions abroad, continued to collaborate with the Ghana 's Investment Promotion Centre to promote the inflow of foreign investment into Ghana Investments registered during the period under review totaled 417 projects. Most of these were joint ventures while a few remained wholly owned by foreign investors.

Trade expositions such as GHANA EXPO 2003, which took place in London , were also successfully organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and PSI with a view to increasing Ghana 's share of foreign markets.

THE DIRECTORATE

CONTACTS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation & NEPAD

Postal Address- P.O. Box M53

Accra . Ghana

Telephone - +(233-21) 66 49 51 – 3

Fax - +(233-21) 66 53 63

Email - ghmfa00@ghana.com  

PROFILE - MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS,

REGIONAL COOPERATION & NEPAD  

Hon. Akwasi Osei-Adjei , M.P. , was appointed as the Minister for Foreign Affairs on 31 July, 2007. Prior to his current appointment, Hon. Osei-Adjei served as a Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs for the period April 2003 to July 2007. He also served as a Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry from March 2001 to April 2003.

During the course of his political career, Hon. Osei-Adjei has represented Ghana at several international meetings and conferences, including those of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement; the African, Caribbean and Pacific group; the Afro-Asia Strategic Partnership Meetings; and the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CENSAD).

As a Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Osei-Adjei had oversight for the management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Missions abroad, and initiated several administrative reforms that have contributed to the better functioning of the Ministry and its Missions.

Hon. Akwasi Osei-Adjei began his active political career in 1992 when he was elected as parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party. He was also a member of the young Executives' Forum of the New Patriotic Party and now serves as a member of the NPP National Council.

Because of his party's boycott of the parliamentary elections of 1992, Hon. Akwasi Osei-Adjei was unable to serve the people of Ejisu-Juaben during the first Parliament of the Fourth Republic . However, in December 1966, he offered himself for public service and was convincingly elected on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party as the Member of Parliament for Ejisu-Juaben – a parliamentary seat that he retained in both the elections of 2000 and 2004.

In his first term in Parliament, Hon. Akwasi Osei-Adjei served as the Deputy Ranking Member for Trade, Industry and Tourism and also served on the House Committee on Communications and Appointments. He currently serves on the house Committee on Finance, Communications and Appointment.

Before his current political career, Hon. Akwasi Osei-Adjei served in various private sector capacities.

From 1979 to 1982 he was the Financial Accountant with Overseas Trading Company Limited of the United Kingdom , where he served as a Financial Analyst.

Desiring to establish himself as an entrepreneur, he incorporated OZZE ( Ghana ) Exports Limited in the United Kingdom in 1989 and run the business till 1990 when he relocated to Ghana . In Ghana he established OZZE ( Ghana ) Limited in Accra – a company which dealt in the distribution of LPG s and home appliances.

Hon. Osei-Adjei trained as an Accountant and holds the Part IV Certification of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. He also holds a Master of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of De Montford , Leicester , U.K.

Hon. Akwasi Osei-Adjei has studied in several institutions both in Ghana and abroad. These include the Institute of Professional Studies , Ghana (1969-1971); Waltham Forest College , U.K. (1973-1974); the London School of Accountancy, U.K. (1974-1978); and the University of De Montford , Leicester U.K. (1995).

Hon. Akwasi Osei-Adjei was born in Kumasi on 27 th December, 1949. He is married with seven children and for his hobby enjoys sports and listening to music.