President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday presented
Ghana’s newly appointed envoy to Japan, Mrs Geneviève Edna Apaloo
with her Letter of Credence, charging her to advance economic, trade and
bilateral relations with Japan.
Mrs Apaloo is a career diplomat with over two decades of experience in
the Foreign Service.
Until her new appointment, she was the acting Head of Mission of the
Embassy of Ghana in Washington DC, United States of America, where
she was posted as Head of Chancery in October 2019.
At a swearing-in ceremony at the Jubilee House, Accra, President Akufo-
Addo, after administering the Oaths of Allegiance, Secrecy and the
official oath, urged the Ambassador to make the promotion of Ghana’s
relations with Japan her topmost priority during her tour of duty.
“Japan is a very good friend of our country. Japan has been a very
faithful, dependable ally of Ghana ever since the beginning of our
independence…Therefore, every necessary step ought to be taken to
protect the strong ties of friendship between Ghana and Japan,” said the
President. “The most important thing is that you are there to promote the
relationship between us and them,” he said, noting that with the level of
experience at her disposal, she would be an effective representative of
Ghana in Japan.
Ambassador Apaloo expressed gratitude to the President for the
the confidence reposed and assure that she would strengthen the ties between
Ghana and Japan.
Mrs. Apaloo holds a Bachelor’s Degree in modern languages, with
combined honors in French & Spanish from the University of Ghana,
Legon, and a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs from the
Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy, University of
Ghana.
Still at the Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo welcomed the Chief
Executive Officer of South African mining conglomerate, Goldfieds
Group, Chris Griffiths, who is on a working visit to the country.
With Ghana being his first country to visit since his appointment, the
Goldfields Group CEO was quick to stress how important Ghana was for
their business.
Chris Griffiths used the occasion to express his group’s sadness at the
Apiatse explosion and gave his commitment that Goldfields and other
stakeholders will do their best to retain the confidence of Ghanaians in
rebuilding the community and the industry.
President Akufo-Addo for his part acknowledged the importance of
Goldfields to Ghana over the years.
On the Apiatse incident, the president said he personally found it very
difficult to come to terms with the disaster, and hoped that the nation will
learn lessons from the devastation.
He assured the community that govt will do whatever it can to rebuild the
community and welcomed contributions from Goldfields for the
reconstruction and development of Apiatse.
President Akufo-Addo also bemoaned the nation’s loss of revenue in the
valuation of Gold in the past, and said the sector which is very critical for
the nation need to undergo reforms for better revenue for Ghana.
The president also highlighted the local issue of illegal mining and its
effect on the environment among others.
