Foreign Minister Inaugurates First Governing Council of Foreign Service Institute
The Ghanaian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, inaugurated the first-ever Governing Council of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) in Accra on May 9, 2025. The initiative is a key milestone in enhancing Ghana's diplomatic prowess and professionalism of foreign service.
Established in 2023, the Foreign Service Institute serves as Ghana’s leading institution for training career diplomats, conducting foreign policy research, and fostering international collaboration. The formation of the Governing Council represents a significant step toward institutionalizing the FSI’s operations and ensuring its long-term impact on Ghana’s global engagements.
The Governing Council is chaired by Minister Ablakwa and includes a distinguished group of diplomats, scholars, and professionals. Among them are seasoned ambassadors and foreign affairs experts who bring wealth of experience to guide the strategic direction of the Institute. The role of the council includes advising on curriculum design, steering research priorities, and forging partnerships with diplomatic academies overseas.
During the inauguration, Minister Ablakwa emphasized the importance of the Council in shaping the Institute's development and orienting it towards Ghana's evolving foreign policy needs. He referenced recent achievements of the FSI, such as high-profile conferences on artificial intelligence in foreign affairs, regional integration, and emerging global geopolitical dynamics. These conferences have been attended by prominent speakers and have fostered substantive policy discussions among the diplomatic community.
The Institute has also begun extensive training for the newly appointed foreign service officers and will soon begin initiating courses in foreign language study in Spanish, French, and Chinese. The programs are designed to strengthen Ghana's diplomats with cultural and linguistic abilities.
A big highlight of the event was the successful bid made by Ghana for hosting the International Forum on Diplomatic Training in 2027, an accepted international gathering of diplomatic academies. This shall be the third time that this forum is held in Africa and further confirms the growing profile of Ghana in world diplomacy.
Looking forward, the Minister spelt out measures to transform the FSI as an independent institution to facilitate flexibility, innovation, and excellence. He called upon the Council to put training in digital diplomacy and artificial intelligence high on the agenda and incorporate technology into diplomatic learning and outreach.
Minister Ablakwa concluded by reaffirming the government's commitment to building a professional, outward-looking Foreign Service that is able to represent Ghana's interests and Africa's voice on the global stage.
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