Ghana has granted diplomatic passports to five prominent cultural figures, recognizing their global contributions to promoting the country’s identity and values abroad.

At a ceremony marking the media launch of the 2025 Diaspora Summit, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa presented the passports to travel vlogger Wode Maya, reggae artist Rocky Dawuni, broadcaster Anita Erskine, visual artist Ibrahim Mahama, and entrepreneur Dentaa Amoateng MBE.

The move signals a shift in Ghana’s diplomatic strategy, aimed at leveraging the international reach of cultural influencers to strengthen the country’s brand, attract investment, and deepen ties with the African diaspora.

“These individuals have become global ambassadors for Ghana and Africa not through formal diplomacy, but by authentically telling our stories,” Mr. Ablakwa said. “It’s time our diplomacy reflects that reality.”

A New Diplomatic Toolkit

The initiative, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Office of the President – Diaspora Affairs, positions cultural diplomacy as a central pillar of Ghana’s foreign policy. Officials say these non-traditional envoys can open doors to international partnerships that conventional diplomacy cannot.

The honorees represent a diverse spectrum of influence, from the digital frontier to the global arts scene.

Wode Maya (real name Berthold Kobby Winkler Ackon), a trained aeronautical engineer, has built one of Africa’s most influential YouTube channels, focusing on entrepreneurship, travel, and development stories across the continent. With a following in the millions, he has become a key voice in reshaping global perceptions of Africa.

Rocky Dawuni, a three-time GRAMMY-nominated Afro Roots artist, has long fused music with advocacy. As a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment in Africa and a voice for clean energy and cultural unity, Dawuni’s platform extends well beyond the stage.

Anita Erskine, a multilingual broadcaster and media entrepreneur, has been at the forefront of African storytelling. Her work promotes youth development, gender empowerment, and pan-African dialogue, both on-screen and in boardrooms.

Ibrahim Mahama, internationally recognized for his large-scale installations made from reclaimed materials, uses art to engage with issues ranging from colonial legacies to global capitalism. His contributions extend beyond galleries—he has invested heavily in art education and infrastructure in Ghana’s northern region.

Dentaa Amoateng MBE, a British-Ghanaian entrepreneur, is the founder of the Grow Unite Build Africa (GUBA) Enterprise and GUBA Awards. Her work connects African diasporas to economic opportunities across the continent. She also serves as Liaison Executive Officer for the Greenwich-Tema Meridian Link, a UK-Ghana trade corridor.

Soft Power in Action

Ghana’s foreign ministry views these appointments not merely as honorary titles, but as integral to a broader soft power strategy. The idea: enable cultural influencers to operate with the privileges and protections of diplomatic agents as they engage international stakeholders.

By incorporating creatives and entrepreneurs into its diplomatic corps, Ghana joins a growing number of nations rethinking who represents them on the global stage.

“We are broadening the definition of diplomacy,” said Mr. Ablakwa. “These are high-impact individuals with built-in global audiences. With this recognition, we are also equipping them to do even more.”

The recipients are expected to play visible roles in diaspora engagement, trade promotion, and cultural exchange initiatives as Ghana prepares for next year’s Diaspora Summit—a key event in the country’s post-COVID strategy to attract foreign investment and deepen ties with its global community.

A Broader Trend

The initiative aligns with a global trend of nations engaging cultural figures in statecraft. From South Korea’s use of K-pop stars to France’s backing of fashion diplomacy, governments are increasingly turning to soft power to advance national interests.

For Ghana, the effort builds on the momentum of the successful Year of Return and Beyond the Return campaigns, which brought thousands of African diasporans to the country and sparked global interest in Ghana as a hub for heritage tourism, investment, and identity.

By formalizing the role of cultural ambassadors, Ghana appears to be signaling that storytelling—and those who control it—now play a central role in shaping national influence.

Source:TheDotNews