The new South African High Commissioner to Ghana Her Excellency Grace Jeanet Mason is building strong diplomatic credentials that will serve as a benchmark for years to come. Already, she has become a favorite of locals due to her unique personality which has been hailed widely.
An exceptional start as a representative of her country in Ghana, she has been trekking the country, engaging with people and building strong ties that speak to the unique relationship that exists between Ghana and South Africa.
She has since visited President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, which afforded her an opportunity to formally introduce herself to the Ghanaian people and also present her official letters.
She subsequently set off on a fact-finding mission across Ghana and met with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in Kumasi. She has also met traditional leaders in the Northern region including Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II at Yendi and toured different facilities in some industrial zones including Tema.
- Mason has met with the President of the South Africa Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Mr Grant Webber as there are over 200 South African companies doing business in Ghana. She also hosted a meeting with Mr Yofi Grant, CEO of GIPC, and met some South African Companies,
She has also visited The Kaya Children Day Center in Madina which is a home for young children from 3 years old. Created 10 years ago by Mama Evelyn, a South African woman and her Ghanaian Husband, the children at the home are mainly that of market women and lack the proper education and daycare as their mothers work many hours a day.
A free breast cancer screening for the mothers was also held after a donation of food products and other provisions to last for the whole Easter period and beyond. Accompanying the High Commissioner and her Staff was Ghana’s Ambassador for Tourism, Arts & Culture to South Africa, Matthew Mensah.
To celebrate the unity sport and culture brings and the strong relationship between Ghana and South Africa, the High Commissioner arranged a live football viewing session at the High Commission residence, where guests were treated to the Afcon Qualifier between South Africa and Ghana. Amongst the invitees were Ghanaian icon and World Bank’s Climate Change Ambassador, Okyeame Kwame, finance guru Duke Essiam, UN Ambassador and Glitz founder Claudia Lumor, Businessman Kwabena Kufuor and singing sensation Adina Thembi, who is half Ghanaian, half South African.
Weeks ago, she hosted officials of a women’s empowerment business company with a focus on helping African women and others to create wealth.
A successful personality, she comes with an incredible strong CV with over 20 years in the diplomatic sector; Chief Protocol officer for President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chief protocol Officer for former President Jacob Zuma and worked with both President Mbeki and Nelson Mandela. She was also Deputy Chief of Protocol for Former President Motlanthe. Madam Mason enjoys incredible support from a seasoned diplomat as Deputy High Commissioner, Mr TM Madumani, who for decades has served in many missions in West Africa.
Her Excellency Mason is intentional about using her time in Ghana to impact and empower people particularly women, promote youth and culture and also strengthen the already close ties between Ghana and South Africa. For everything she has been to, there is every reason to believe she is a rare kind.
