President John Dramani Mahama has officially commissioned a new chancery for Ghana’s Embassy in Addis Ababa, marking what government officials describe as a significant step in strengthening Ghana’s diplomatic footprint on the African continent.

The ceremony took place on Monday, February 16, 2026, during the president’s visit to Ethiopia for the 39th African Union (AU) Summit.

The new facility replaces years of temporary arrangements and represents the culmination of a decade-long journey that began with funding secured under the 2016 SG-SSB facility.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, underscored the broader meaning of the project beyond its physical structure.

“This magnificent edifice is more than just a new building; it is an affirmation of Ghana’s firm belief in multilateralism, our demonstrable commitment to the African Union vision, and our strong resolve to deepen the cherished bilateral relations with the friendly nation of Ethiopia,” he said.

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The project, which experienced delays due to economic challenges, was revived by the current administration, with outstanding Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) settled last year to allow construction to continue to completion.

Ablakwa further noted that the commissioning sends a strong signal of President Mahama’s preparedness to assume the Chairmanship of the African Union next year.

He also used the occasion to express gratitude to partners who contributed to the project’s success.

“We convey profound appreciation to our special guest, the distinguished Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Dr Gedion Timothewos.

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“I commend all those who made this day possible, particularly colleagues at the Ministry, Embassy staff, the Ethiopian contractor, and the Ghanaian consultant,” Ablakwa stated.

Beyond the commissioning ceremony, President Mahama’s visit to Addis Ababa was dominated by a forceful message on reparatory justice during the AU Summit.

Addressing African leaders, he stressed that reparations for historical injustices would not come without deliberate effort and unity.

“Reparatory justice will not be handed to us. Like independence, it must be secured through unity and determination.

“In my report to the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State this morning on advancing the cause of justice and the payment of reparations to Africans and people of African descent, I observed that 2025, designated as the African Union Year of Justice through Reparations has marked a turning point,” he wrote on Facebook after addressing the AU Summit Press Conference on Reparations.

He added, “We have established the AU Coordination Team and Committee of Experts on Reparations, engaged global institutions from the UN to UNESCO, led conversations at major international forums across four continents, and reframed reparations as forward-looking instruments for justice and equity.

“But our work is far from over. I called on all Member States to strengthen our institutions, establish national reparations commissions, and engage with the global community to secure apologies, restitution, and binding agreements,” he concluded.





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