She said, the unique skills offered by diplomacy such as representation, communication, negotiation and training had defined contemporary international relations, which had been used to handle otherwise complex global challenges since the end of World War II in 1945.

Ambassador Pobee told the GNA in an interview after receiving Ghanaian student delegation at her office in New York that, many young people from un-industrialised nations are developing interests in diplomatic and international relations work.

She advocated a carefully planned policy to groom them to replace hardworking serving and aging diplomats.  Led by the Executive Director of Lifelink Friendship Schools-Ghana, Mr Ernest Gyimah-Danquah, the students paid courtesy call on the Ghanaian envoy on the side-lines of the just ended Middle School Model United Nations Summit held in New York where Ghana’s contingent of 40 students dazzled the various committees of the UN as it debated several issues of global concerns.

In the end, two of Ghana’s representatives on the UN Security Council, Jamayne Gyimah-Danquah from SOS Herman Gmeiner School and Bright Habada from SAPs School won awards in the Honorary Mention category for their sterling performance.

Ambassador Pobee who has been at her current duty post since 2015, becoming the country’s first female to hold the position, congratulated Team Ghana for bringing honour to the nation and challenged them to do more to improve on their lots.

She commended Lifelink Friendship Schools - Ghana for its work over the last decade in ensuring that close to 600 Ghanaian students were exposed, nurtured and trained in diplomacy. She said other people at the meeting included the Global Operations Director for Lifelink Friendship Schools- Ghana, Mrs. Adomaa Sakyi-Baffoe and the Head of Chancery at the Ghana’s UN Mission in New York, Mrs. Vivian Serwaa Gyasi.

Mrs Sakyi-Baffoe also told the GNA that plans were far advanced to increase access and expand the scope of the training given to students at in-country level prior to international competitions in Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Geneva, London and Washington.

The two-day summit was organised by the United Nations Association of United states of America (UNA-USA) and sponsored by the Global Classrooms, The Lebanese University and the United Nations Foundation.

It is aimed at educating young people about the workings of the United Nations and its affiliated agencies.  The delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio at his Gracie Mansion official residence in New York City.