President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed the Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr Emmanuel Akwetey as one of the 13 Advisory Board members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

The board, under the chairmanship of sector Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, is tasked with overseeing the overall policy direction of the ministry, strengthening its structures and streamlining the operations of the country’s missions, honorary consulates and consulates general worldwide.

They were inaugurated and sworn into office by Justice George K. Koomson, Justice of the High Court in Accra on Thursday, 3 August. They took the oaths of office, secrecy and allegiance.

The membership include the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs Frank Annor Dompreh, the Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Charles Owiredu and Mr Mohammed Habib Tijani; the Chief Director of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Albert Francis Yankey, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Carlos Kingsley Ahinkorah.

Others are the representative of retired Foreign Service officers, Mr B. G. Godwyll; Brigadier-General Dr Emmanuel Wenkem Kotia of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Ms Gifty Kekeli Klenam.

After the swearing-in ceremony, the Minister said: “We will also develop strategic alliances with neighbouring countries to address issues of common concern such as drug and human trafficking, the proliferation of small arms and light weapon, maritime piracy and the threat of Boko Haram and other terrorist activities.”