The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to Ghana to Oriel Chinthaka Ariyaratna Paiyagala Linyanage, a locally recruited driver at Ghana’s Embassy in France.

The ministry said the trip fulfills Linyanage’s lifelong dream to visit the country he served for more than 40 years.

Haruna, Ablakwa in serious 'fight' over NDC 2028 running mate slot – Adom-Otchere alleges

The recognition was announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on December 25, 2025, during a carols service, where Linyanage was surprised with the award in appreciation of his 41 years of dedicated service as a representational driver at Ghana’s Embassy in Paris.

“It has always been the dream of Oriel Chinthaka Ariyaratna Paiyagala Linyanage, a locally recruited driver at Ghana’s embassy in France to one day visit Ghana for the first time after serving Ghana’s embassy in Paris for 41 long years,” the minister said on Facebook.

Linyanage, who is originally from Sri Lanka, was recruited on September 8, 1984. Throughout his career, he served successive Ghanaian diplomats in France but never had the opportunity to visit Ghana.

Ablakwa disclosed that Linyanage’s late father, who also worked for many years as a driver at Ghana’s embassy in France, similarly never visited the country.

He said that the sponsored trip to Ghana forms part of a comprehensive award package that includes visits to major tourist attractions, gifts, and a cash prize.

“His dream became a reality when we surprised him with an all-expenses-paid trip to Ghana and awarded him for his dedicated service to Ghana for more than four decades. Oriel’s sponsored trip to Ghana is part of his award, which comes with visits to tourist attractions, gifts, and a cash prize,” Ablakwa noted.


The minister indicated that the award to Linyanage is part of a newly established long-service and best-performing staff recognition scheme for locally recruited employees of Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad.

The initiative, the minister further explained, is aimed at motivating staff, deepening inclusivity, and promoting productivity across Ghana’s foreign missions.

“The Ministry has established this new long-service and best performing staff award scheme for locally recruited colleagues of our diplomatic missions abroad to motivate, deepen inclusivity and promote productivity. It shall be held annually,” he explained.

In addition to Linyanage, the ministry also honoured other long-serving locally recruited Ghanaian staff.

They include Evans Aryeequaye Attoh, a driver at Ghana’s Embassy in Rome with 36 years of service; Caroline Nkrumah-Appiah, a stenographer at Ghana’s Mission in New York who has served for 35 years; and Philip Twum Nkansah, an Accounts Assistant at the Rome embassy with 35 years of service.

Ablakwa to visit Latvia over death of Ghanaian student under mysterious circumstances

Ablakwa noted that the award scheme will be held annually and complements an existing, separate recognition programme for home-based Foreign Service staff.

The minister said the initiative underscores the ministry’s commitment to valuing loyalty and long service, particularly among locally recruited staff who play key roles in sustaining Ghana’s diplomatic presence abroad.

Read his full post below:



MAG/EB

Meanwhile watch highlights of Black Sherif's performance at Zaama Disco 2025