Accra, Oct. 7, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday granted Letters of Commission to 10 new envoys with a reminder to them to consider the overall national interest devoid of partisanship, ethnocentrism and religious biases in their foreign assignments. He congratulated them on their appointments, and asked them to be "fathers and mothers" of all Ghanaians.

President Mills invoked divine blessings on the envoys to make them successful in their foreign assignments and to have rewarding duty tours that would be beneficial to the entire Ghanaian community. The President administered the Official Oath, the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Secrecy.

The envoys and their respective countries are: Mrs Helen Mamle Kofi- China, Mrs Genevieve Delali Tsegah - France, Mr Fidelis Woenenyo Ekar - Spain, Mrs Margaret Clarke-Kwesie - Korea, Mr James Okoe Naadjie - Zimbabwe and Alhaji Abdullah Salifu - Saudi Arabia.

The rest are Major- General Samuel Anum Odotei (rtd) - Sierra Leone, Mr Donald Adabre Ababre - Mali and Mr Dan Abodakpi - Malaysia. In an exhortation, Mr James Victor Gbeho, Presidential Adviser on Foreign Policy, said the envoys were "eyes and ears" of the President in parts of the world where they represented Ghana.

That, he said, put a lot of responsibility on them and urged them to let the national interest be the overriding factor in their countries of accreditation, as well as in all their negotiations. He advised them to make friends with countries that shared similar beliefs to those of Ghana and pursue accountable governance, democratic values, transparency, justice and fairness.

This, he said, would make Ghana stand taller and enhance its reputation as a true democratic country in the comity of nations. Mr Gbeho reminded the envoys of Government's commitment to improve development and called on them to pursue economic diplomacy to attract investors to Ghana.

Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs, asked them to stress integrity and compassion in their assignments. Meanwhile, the Association of Spouses of Heads of Missions on Wednesday called on the First Lady, Mrs Ernestina Naadu Mills, at the Osu Castle to formally introduce the organisation to her. The First Lady commended the Association on its philanthropic works.

Mrs Odette Toure, wife of the UNDP Resident Representative, said the Association met monthly and was engaged in the offering of assistance to needy communities. 7 Oct. 09