Ghana High Commission visit

On Friday the 12th of March 2010, we (students of The New Diplomacy module) were very lucky to have been able to take a trip over to the Ghana High Commission based in Sloan Square.

We were graced with the presence of His Excellence Professor Kwaku Danso-Buafo, the High Commissioner himself who gave us his time to address regarding the role of the High Commissioner within a contemporary world. The main themes identified from his speech were: Ghana's mission to conduct diplomacy with an Afro-centric approach. He then went on to identify the Ghana Commissioner's primary objectives which included protecting the interest of Ghana, to ensure they establish a just and equitable international order and to adhere to the principles of treaties and promote the interest of the organisation it is a member of. His Excellency also mentioned organisations Ghana was part of which included the UN, The African Union, The Common Wealth, Economic Community of West African States.

It is then that His Excellency mentioned that the it is important to have both bilateral and multi-lateral relations in the international realm in order to pursue Ghana's state interest.

We were then very lucky yo hav Mr Ramses Cleland who is the Head of Politics and Economy at the High Commission. Mr Ramses spoke of the beginning's of diplomatic practise and mentioned the Vienna Convention as being one of the starting points of modern diplomatic practise. However, African countries were deprived of diplomatic practice, so in the 50's and 60's as African countries began to gain independence they concentrated on taking an Afro-centric approach. Ghana established 30 missions in the 1960's and acquired a reputation for progressiveness. It had to focus on a development agenda, the need to correct some of the injustices against African countries and to look for an approach to redress the balance.

Ghana were able to develop relationships through historical ties. Africa is at a disadvantage especially in terms of trade, Ghana try to address these issues through allies and friendships in other countries e.g the UK government and through multi-lateral organisations such as the Commonwealth which is very useful.

We also addressed by Mr George Fynn regarding trade and investment in Ghana and Zuwera Ibrahim regarding the influence of technology has influenced the work of the High Commission.

Altogether, this trip was very very well facilitated, structured as well as very informative. No doubt every student took away a lot from this visit.