Ghana's new Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee has underscored the strategic importance of the Ghanaian Diaspora in the nation's development and assured them of more collaboration in getting the best for the country.

Addressing a diaspora engagement meeting of the executives of the various Ghanaian Associations in New York on Friday (August 7 , 2015) at which she was introduced to them, the Ambassador indicated her readiness to engage them actively in looking at various national interests like investments, trade and governance.

The well attended meeting attracted the National Council of Ghanaian Associations in New York,(NCOGA) Council of Ghanaian Associations in New Jersey (COGA),United Nations Social Recreation Club (a group of Ghanaians working with the UN),The Association of Ghanaian Lawyers and other professional bodies.
Coming on a few days after assuming office, Ambassador Pobee noted that she considered it an important priority to meet with her compatriots, with whom she will be working as partners for Ghana.
"I pledge to pursue a policy of engagement and seek your guidance. We need each and everyone of you in the implementation of Ghana' s development", she stated adding that the registration of all Ghanaians here will continue. We shall create a new website for more interaction.

She announced that the Mission will soon begin the issuance of biometric Ghanaian passports among other plans that will be introduced.

Earlier, Deputy Permanent Representative Philbert Isaac Kobina Abaka Johnson noted that the potential role of the Ghanaian in the Diaspora in the development efforts has in recent years won unprecedented recognition from government, that is why the Diaspora Support Bureau has been created to cater for their interest, engage them and seek to harness their potentials and resources both human and capital for accelerated national development.
He emphasized that diaspora engagement is a national development and therefore it is the responsibility of all citizens to take very active part in it to achieve the full measure.

Tracing the invaluable contribution of diasporas to pre-Ghana's independence days, starting from Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the First President and others like him whose contributions and remittances have brought Ghana this far, the Deputy PR, said "in this case you are some of the best citizens that Ghana has and we shall therefore count on you."

As part of the programme all the executives of the various Ghanaian groups and other professional bodies were introduced to Ambassador Pobee by Mr. R. Harry Reynolds, Head of Information and Mr. K.Bernard Quantson, Consul General both of the Ghana Mission. During the interaction that followed, they all pledged their support to make her tenure successfu and particularly to advance Ghana's interest and development.

Pictures taken by Samuel Nutakor shows (0025) Dr. Victor Essien,(Second from left)Chairman of the Council of Patrons of NCOGA in a warm hand shake with the Ambassador(Middle) as Mr.Reynolds introduces her.

Picture (0033) Ambassador Pobee (middle) being introduced to Mr. Ofori Anor, Executive Secretary General of NCOGA.

Picture (0025) Former President of UNSRC (left) taking his turn at the function to welcome the Ambassador