The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has inaugurated the first Governing Council of Ghana’s Foreign Service Institute (FSI).
Established in 2023, the FSI aims to professionalize training for Ghanaian diplomats and public officials, while also serving the broader West African region.
In his remarks on Friday in Accra, the Minister noted that the newly inaugurated Governing Council is expected to serve as a strategic advisory body, tasked with steering the Institute’s academic focus, research agenda, and international partnerships.
Since its establishment, he said, the Institute has made notable strides. In early 2025, it hosted high-level policy dialogues on pressing global topics such as AI in diplomacy, regional integration, and geopolitical competition in Africa, featuring distinguished speakers like Professor Abdoulaye Bathily, a former UN Special Representative.
“It has also delivered orientation and pre-posting training for new Foreign Service recruits and is set to introduce intensive language programmes in Spanish, French, and Chinese to enhance linguistic and cultural competence,” he added.
According to the Minister, a landmark achievement came in 2023 when Ghana, through the FSI, secured the hosting rights for the 2027 International Forum on Diplomatic Training (IFDT).
“This prestigious global event will mark only the third time the Forum is held in Africa, underscoring the growing recognition of Ghana’s diplomatic leadership,” he said.
The Minister underscored plans to transition the Institute into an autonomous entity to enhance operational efficiency and international collaboration.
This move, he explained, will provide greater operational flexibility and enhance the Institute’s ability to scale up its activities, deepen global partnerships, and attract sustainable funding.
He stated, “We envisage the FSI becoming a centre of excellence for diplomatic training and research on the African continent.”
He assured that the government remains committed to strengthening the Institute’s foundation.
Mr. Ablakwa urged the Council to prioritise critical areas such as curriculum development in emerging fields like digital diplomacy and artificial intelligence, policy-driven research aligned with Ghana’s foreign policy, and the integration of digital learning tools.
Patience Anaadem, ISD
