Ghana-Seychelles relations: ‘Windfall’ for Ghanaian teachers?

‘Luck’ seems to be the ‘aroma’ clothing the persona of Ghana’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Seychelles, when he recently presented his letters of credence to the President of his host country in Victoria.

Just at the presentation of his letters of credence, Ghana’s new High Commissioner to Seychelles,  Mr Charles Asuako Owiredu,  ‘instantly’ opened ‘doors’ and ‘windows’ for some Ghanaian professional teachers to be legally employed in the Republic of Seychelles.

Reportedly, the Government of the Republic of Seychelles is urgently seeking to sign an agreement with the Government of Ghana to help shape the educational system of Seychelles.

The request for Ghanaian teachers was made by the President of Seychelles, Mr Wavel Ramkalawan, through the Ghana High Commissioner to the island country, Mr Owiredu.

Presenting his letters of credence to President Ramkalawan in Victoria, capital of Seychelles, the Seychelloi President reportedly said, “to enhance the standards of our educational system, we will plead with Ghana to allocate a sizeable number of Ghanaian professional teachers to our country.

“If the agreement is actualised, we strongly believe that the Ghanaian teachers will share their rich experiences with their counterparts in Seychelles, so as to help improve our educational system.”

Reportedly, High Commissioner Owiredu assured President Ramkalawan that he would confer with his home Government to ensure the realisation of his intent.

Dr Yaw Adutwum, Minister of Education is reported to have said in Accra that the Government of the United Kingdom has also expressed interest in engaging qualified professional Ghanaian teachers “to help build the education system in the United Kingdom.”

“With the actualisation of the ‘teaching’ agreement, it is the expectation that between 300 and 500 teachers will be exported from Ghana to Seychelles,” an elated teacher who is praying to be part of the first batch to leave the country for Seychelles has said.

According to him, “apart from being an avenue to broaden the teachers’ horizon internationally, my expectation is that, salary-wise, those who would be selected will be given a standardised and acceptable conditions of service to enable them to give of their best.”

Mr Cephas Inkoom, a pensioner, also says:”If similar agreements could be brokered by some of our missions abroad, it could go a long way in addressing our nation’s unemployment headaches.

“That way, we will not ‘encounter’ Unemployed Graduates Associations in our country.”

Experts say the first function of diplomacy involves representing a state’s interests and conducting negotiations or discussions designed to identify common interests as well as areas of disagreements between the parties, for the purpose of achieving the state’s goals and avoiding conflicts.

The second function of diplomacy involves the gathering of information and subsequent identification and evaluation of receiving state’s foreign policy goals.

According to the experts, the third major function of diplomacy is expansion of political, economic and cultural ties between two countries.

And the fourth function of diplomacy relates to using it as an enforcing vehicle to facilitate the observation of international laws.

Indeed, examining the functions of diplomacy, this column appreciates the diplomatic relations between Ghana and Seychelles and commends the efforts of President Ramkalawan and High Commissioner Owiredu in their readiness to strengthen the ties between the two countries.

Seychelles is described as an Island Republic, in the Western Indian Ocean, comprising about 115 islands, with lush tropical vegetation and beautiful beaches.

Its estimated population is 100,000, making it the smallest population of any sovereign African country.

English, French and Seychelloi are the official languages of Seychelles. It became independent and a member of the Commonwealth in 1976.

The main islands are located about 1,000 kilometres northeast of the northern tip of Madagascar and 1,800 kilometres east of Mombasa (Kenya).

The scenery of the islands is described as unbeatable beauty, exotic and tropical; and the beaches are said to be the best in the world.

Readers, let’s cross our fingers and await the outcome of the initial ‘inspiring’ diplomatic discussions between President Ramkalawan and High Commissioner Owiredu.

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asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)

By G. Frank Asmah