Ambassador: Ireland 'well got' in Ghana thanks to missionaries


Ambassador Seán Hoy reflects on his experience of the Presidential inauguration in Ghana.

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Ambassador Seán Hoy pictured in 2015 with Srs. Mary Rita O'Mahony (centre) and Patricia McMenamin at the graves of two early OLA Sisters in Elmina.

 

Ambassador Seán Hoy recently attended the inauguration of President Nana Akufo-Addo in Accra, Ghana. The event, which took place on Janaury 7th, was attended by some 400,000 Ghanaians.

In a blog post to the Department of Foreign Affairs website, Mr. Hoy described the colourful scene he witnessed during the inauguration:

"Traditional drummers pounded out a hip swaying beat that seemed to add electricity to the stifled air....President Akufo-Addo was inaugurated in traditional Kente attire, radiantly flamboyant for the occasion."

Ambassador Hoy also reported that the current political impasse in Gambia was prominent in the minds of many leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who attended the banquet following the inauguration:

"The leaders of the region came to join the celebration, to welcome Akufo-Addo into the ECOWAS family...and determine next steps as the political crisis in Gambia unwinds. The ECOWAS Chairperson in her remarks urged Gambia to follow the example of Ghana in accepting election results and moving forward."

Mr. Hoy also acknowledged that Ireland is well received in Ghana - thanks to the contribuition of missionaries among others:

"The President and the Vice President worked the room shaking hands with everybody and allowed time for each of us to pass on greetings. Ireland is well got in Ghana from the contribution of missionaries and teachers in the development of the country."

The OLA Sisters have had a presence in Ghana since 1883 with a focus on education, health care and pastoral works. Of the fifty eight OLA Sisters currently on mission in Ghana, two are Irish - Sr. Mary Rita O'Mahony from Co. Cork and Sr. Maura Cranney from Co. Down. Both are based at the OLA Formation House in Cape Coast.

Ambassador Seán Hoy was appointed as Ireland's Ambassador to Nigeria in September 2014. Based in Abuja, Mr. Hoy is also Ambassador to Ghana, ECOWAS and the Ambassador-designate of Ireland to Senegal.


Click here to read Ambassador Hoy's blog post in-full.