The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has held a two-day management retreat from 10 to 11 January 2026 to review its performance in 2025 and outline targets for the new year.
The retreat brought together top management and departmental heads to assess progress made during the past year and develop strategic plans to guide the Ministry’s operations in 2026.
In his opening remarks, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP, commended management and staff for their dedication and achievements in 2025. He expressed optimism that the Ministry would record greater productivity this year while reinforcing Ghana’s long-standing non-aligned foreign policy stance.
Mr Ablakwa urged staff to remain focused on advancing Ghana’s interests on the global stage, emphasising that diplomacy should deliver tangible benefits for citizens. “Our diplomacy must be impactful,” he noted, stressing the need for measurable outcomes from the Ministry’s engagements.
Chief Director, Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, echoed similar sentiments, calling for renewed commitment, purpose and sustained excellence in Ghana’s diplomatic work. She lauded the Minister and his deputy for their strong leadership and dedication to staff welfare, recalling several measures introduced in 2025 to enhance working conditions.
The retreat featured an interactive session that allowed participants to deliberate on key policy objectives and devise strategies to achieve them within the stipulated timelines. Discussions focused on improving coordination across departments, strengthening Ghana’s bilateral and multilateral relations, and enhancing the Ministry’s institutional efficiency.
Deputy Minister James Gyakye Quayson, MP, reaffirmed the leadership’s commitment to transparency and accountability in implementing the Ministry’s agenda. He urged staff to transform the Ministry’s vision into concrete results that directly benefit Ghanaians.
The two-day retreat concluded with a renewed sense of purpose, collaboration and shared resolve among the Ministry’s leadership to deliver on its mandate and project Ghana’s diplomacy effectively in the year ahead.