VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS

Consistent with its constitutionally mandated responsibilities, "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regonal Integration exists to promote and protect the interest of Ghana and its citizens abroad and to enhance Ghana's security and prosperity through:

- Promoting friendly relations and economic Integration between Ghana and other countries and enhancing Ghana's image abroad;

- Promoting Ghanaian exports, tourism potential, attracting foreign investment for Ghana and enhancing scientific, technological and cultural links between Ghana and other States;

-Providing economic, political and security information and advise to Government;

-Providing consular service;

-Playing a positive and creative role as a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth and other international organisations to which Ghana belongs;

-Upholding the rule of law in international affairs and seeking the establishment of a just and equitable international order;

-Providing supportive services to relevant MDAs and local NGOs in their work; and

-Assisting diplomatic missions, international organisations and foreign NGOs in the discharge of their legitimate duties in Ghana.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD seeks to carry out the foregoing through a dedicated, efficient, knowledgeable and patriotic staff.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

For the period under review, the following continued to be the six core objectives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD as validated in the approved programme budget for the 2004 financial year;

-To promote and protect the interest of Ghana and its citizens abroad, and enhance Ghana's security and prosperity;
-To provide efficient and effective consular and legal services within and outside Ghana;

To promote favourable conditions for Ghana's trade, foreign investments, tourism and to seek scientific, technological and cultural co-operation with other countries and institutions;

-To promote fruitful political and economic relations with all countries especially Ghana's neighboring countries in the interest of peace, stability and economic development;

-To play a positive and creative role in the international organisations to which Ghana belongs; and
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To upgrade the Ministry's human and institutional capacity for the efficient execution of Ghana's foreign policy objectives.

FUNCTIONS

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD core function is to advise and assist Government in the formulation and implementation of Ghana's foreign policy objectives, including through proffering advice on policy option in response to unfolding international situations and events.

The Ministry therefore, controls, directs and coordinates Ghana's external relations and closely collaborates with other Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) to facilitate the realisation of Government's agenda including efforts in the areas of trade and investment promotion.

In addition to the core functions carried out to achieve the objectives contained in the Mission Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD the following functions are also undertaken:

. Dissemination of general information on Ghana within the international community;

. Co-ordination of the interaction between the Government of Ghana and foreign Governments

. Assistance to national security agencies in safeguarding and protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ghana.

. Promotion and maintenance of international peace and security and the policy of good neighbourliness with Ghana's immediate neighbours;

. Assistance to key economic players in pursuing an accelerated rate of national economic development;

. Issuance of passports and other travel documents; and

. Provision of protocol services;

ACHIEVEMENTS (SUMMARY):

The focused implementation of Ghana's foreign policy objectives to the achievement, among of the following others:

Improved Relations With Immediate Neighbours

Ghana's vigorous pursuit of her good neighbourly policy of friendship and cooperation in the West African Sub-region culminated in the strengthening of relations with her immediate neighbours for mutual benefit.

Further, Ghana continued to support regional peacemaking efforts including the resolution of protracted conflicts within the sub-region, especially in La Cote d' Ivoire, Liberia and Guinea Bissau. Ghana also participated in various United Nations peacekeeping missions such as UNIFIL.

Enhanced influence within the wider African Settings

Ghana continued to maintain its influence within Africa through positive contributions towards Africa's integration efforts and economic development. Ghana gained world-wide recognition and commendation for being the first African state to subscribe to the Africa Peer Review Mechanism of NEPAD.

Improved Goodwill And Support Within The Wider International Community

Ghana's relations with countries outside the African Continent have witnessed a further strengthening. The initiative undertaken resulted, inter alia, in the effective mobilisation of development aid and technical assistance from various countries and institutions.

On the whole, Ghana's development partners extended generous support in the form of grants and debt relief within the context of Ghana's participation in the HIPC Initiative.

At the multilateral level, Ghana participated effectively in debates on issues of international importance such as control of the movement of hazardous wastes, combating of illicit drug trafficking, and the impact of brain drain on the world's poor countries. In all these debates Ghana sought to project her interests, as well as those of developing countries in general.

Government's firm commitment to the rule of law and respect for human rights, good governance and democracy; it's recognition of the private sector as the engine of growth; and its support for Ghana's membership of, and constructive performance in, international organisations, all culminated in the positioning of Ghana on a pedestal, with an enhanced image on the international scene.

In pursuance of the policy of economic diplomacy the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Regional Integration and NEPAD through its Missions abroad, continued to collaborate with the Ghana's Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) to promote the inflow of foreign investment into Ghana Investments registered during the period under review totaled 417 projects. Most of these were joint ventures while a few remained wholly owned by foreign investors.

Trade expositions such as GHANA EXPO 2003, which took place in London, were also successfully organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and PSI with a view to increasing Ghana's share of foreign markets.