From Pan-African Parliament to Diplomatic Frontline: Kenneth Akibate Becomes Ghana’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso

The President of Faso and Head of State, Ibrahim Traoré, on Friday formally received the letters of credence of Kenneth AKIBATE, designating him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ghana to the Burkina Faso. The ceremony marks the official start of AKIBATE’s diplomatic mission in the sister nation.

The ceremonial event marks the official commencement of Ambassador AKIBATE’s diplomatic mission to Burkina Faso, and signals Ghana’s renewed commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with its neighbour in West Africa.

During the presentation, Ambassador-designate AKIBATE expressed his gratitude and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening the long-standing cooperation between Ghana and Burkina Faso. He conveyed greetings from his government, pledged to strengthen bilateral relations, and underlined shared goals for regional stability, economic integration, and cultural exchange.

“It is a great honour to present my credentials as Ghana’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso,” Ambassador AKIBATE said. “I carry with me the warm greetings of my government and a firm resolve to deepen cooperation between our two nations in the spirit of solidarity, development, and regional unity.”

President Traoré, for his part, welcomed Ambassador AKIBATE and underscored the significance of the credentials ceremony: a key diplomatic moment that formalizes the envoy’s status and confers full accreditation under international protocol. He stressed that current challenges in the Sahel demand solidarity and collaboration among neighboring states, and reaffirmed Burkina Faso’s readiness to work closely with Ghana on defense, development, and regional security.

The event recalls the long history of cooperation between the two countries: since the early post-independence era, Ghana and Burkina Faso have maintained friendly relations, bolstered by inter-state agreements such as the 1971 General Framework Agreement for Cooperation and the establishment of a Joint Standing Cooperation Commission. Diplomats at the ceremony highlighted the importance of reinforcing that legacy at a time when both nations face shared regional challenges.

Ambassador AKIBATE, born 24 December 1965, brings to his new posting a distinguished career. He spent many years at the Pan-African Parliament, where he served as Deputy Clerk for Finance, Administration and Human Resources; before that, he held the post of Serjeant-at-Arms. His extensive experience both in regional diplomacy and within Ghana’s national institutions was cited as a key reason for his appointment.

At the close of the ceremony, the Ghanaian and Burkinabè delegations reaffirmed their shared commitment to bilateral cooperation in a number of strategic sectors, including security, infrastructure, education, and trade. Officials described the accreditation as a new chapter in Ghana-Burkina Faso relations, and expressed optimism that Ambassador AKIBATE’s mission will strengthen ties and foster mutual prosperity.