Accra, March 25, GNA - The Institute of Diplomatic and Development Policies (I-2DP) has opened in Accra to offer training and research opportunities to young diplomats to carry out their duties effectively.

The Institute, the first of its kind in the country is to serve as a platform for research to help successive governments, shape the policies of international organisations and actively help in the training of officials and diplomats from home and abroad in handling the international affairs of their respective establishments. Inaugurating the 91Nyansapo House', which accommodates the institute at Ajiriganor, a suburb of Accra on Friday, Alhaji Mohammad Mununi, Minister of Foreign Affairs described the institute as a landmark establishment and commended the founder and Director, Nana Bema Kumi, for conceptualising the plan and executing it into reality. He underscored the importance of training towards cultivating a quality workforce to build a competitive economy and integration into the global world.

Alhaji Mumuni said the establishment of the institute falls within the synergy between Government and the private sector to provide means of training to all sectors of the economy. The Minister said I-2DP will fill the void in the training profile of diplomats and also equip them with the practical hands-on teaching which he said was in line with Government's vision to create robust and resilient economies.

With limited instruments for training, he emphasised the need to have home-grown and home-based personnel whilst commending the authorities on the inclusion of climate change, which poses great human insecurity in their programmes.

He expressed conviction that the Institute would become a centre of excellence and reference point for training in diplomacy and the analysis and implementation of policies. Nana Kumi, said after 35-years of diplomatic service she was motivated by the significant contributions of diplomatic and development institutions to nation building to establish the institute.

The immediate past Director of the Legal Bureau and a former Ghana's Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, said the focus of the institute would be on the environment, with special emphasis on climate change and efforts to combat its negative effects. The institute has the adinkra symbol as its logo, and boasts of offices for the Director, Research Officers and visiting resources persons, two conference rooms, a restaurant and bar for participants in the programmes. It also has 22 luxury suites which will provide accommodation for special delegations.