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Plans are underway to secure Cabinet approval for the transition of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) to an autonomous or semi-autonomous status, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed.
He explained that such a reform would afford FSI the operational flexibility, administrative independence, and strategic latitude needed to scale its activities, deepen international partnerships, and attract sustainable funding to support its expand mandate.
Mr Ablakwa said this on Friday at the inauguration of a 15-member governing council-first of its kind under the chairmanship of Mr Ablakwa.
The members include Amb Ramses J. Cleland, AmbPhilibert I.K.A Johnson, Amb Jane Gasu, AmbMuhammad Adam, Mr Fred Amissah, Mr Kofi SafoAkyea, and Mr Clarence Amoatey.
The others are Madam Gina Apenteng, Mr SebastianDeh, Adams Mahama Misbahu, Kwame Gakpey,Amb. Grant Ntrakwa, Gina Apenteng, and AmbAgnes Aggrey Orleans.
“As part of our long-term institutional strategy, plans are underway to secure Cabinet’s approval for the transition of the Institute to an autonomous or semi-autonomous status,” Mr Ablakwa said.
He said that the FSI, in the first quarter of this year successfully convened high-level policy dialogues and public lectures on cutting-edge topics such as Artificial Intelligence and Diplomacy, and also delivered orientation programmes for newly recruited Foreign Service Officers.
Mr Ablakwa also said that plans were far advanced to introduce intensive language training in Spanish, French, and Chinese, as part of government’s effort to ensure linguistic competence and cultural sensitivity in international diplomacy.
According to him, a landmark achievement was recorded in 2023 when Ghana, through the FSI, secured the hosting rights for the 2027 edition of the International Forum on Diplomatic Training (IFDT).
“The FSI serves as a crucible in which this diplomatic excellence is nurtured honed and actualised. I therefore entrust the stewardship of this vital vision to your distinguished care, with full confidence in your capacity to provide principled, visionary, and exemplary leadership,” Mr Ablakwa added.
The FSI was established in 2023 to provide formalised and professional training for Foreign Service Officers and a broader cadre of public officials who represented the country’s interest at home and abroad.
Its core mandate is to bridge the gap between academic theory and diplomatic practise for international relations and multilateral engagement.
