MANILA, Philippines — Business leaders, diplomats and top figures from the Philippine diplomatic and business communities gathered to bid farewell to Ghana Ambassador Florence Buerki Akonor, marking the end of her diplomatic posting in the Philippines and signaling what could be a new chapter in relations between Manila and Accra.
Among those who joined the send-off were Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Ferdinand Ferrer, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. president Sergio Ortiz-Luis, ECOP chairman emeritus Enunina Mangio, PCCI chairman emeritus Ambassador Francis Chua, Ghana Consul General Betty Chua, and businessman Carlos Rufino.
The farewell gathering also drew members of the diplomatic corps, including Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, Lao Ambassador Thipphasone Sengsouriya, Peruvian Ambassador Carmen Azurin, and Ukrainian Ambassador Yulia Fediv.
Akonor’s departure comes after more than two years of representing Ghana in the Philippines as a non-resident ambassador based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Official Philippine diplomatic records list her among ambassadors accredited to Manila with residence in Kuala Lumpur, while Ghana’s High Commission previously documented her visits to the Philippines for consular and diplomatic engagements.
A diplomatic bridge between Ghana and the Philippines
Akonor presented her credentials to the Philippine government in May 2024 and has since represented Ghana in efforts to deepen diplomatic and economic engagement between the two countries.
Her tenure also coincided with important changes in Ghana’s consular representation in the Philippines. In February 2024, Akonor visited Manila to oversee the handover of Ghana’s Honorary Consul post from Carlos Rufino to Betty Lao Ang, according to the Ghana High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.
That transition underscored the continuing role of Ghana’s Honorary Consulate in Metro Manila in handling consular matters and promoting closer links between Ghana and the Philippines.
Tess Lazaro pays tribute
Foreign Affairs Secretary Tess Lazaro also paid tribute to Akonor, recognizing her contribution to strengthening bilateral relations between the Philippines and Ghana.
“I thanked Ambassador Florence for her invaluable service in strengthening bilateral ties between our two countries,” Lazaro said, according to the report.
Lazaro also pointed to a potentially significant next step in Philippine diplomacy: plans to establish a Philippine Embassy in Accra.
Such a move could expand Manila’s diplomatic footprint in Africa, strengthen political and economic engagement with Ghana and provide greater consular support for Filipinos in the region.
Farewell in Manila, mission ending in October
The farewell events come as Akonor winds down her broader diplomatic mission. In late August, Cambodian officials confirmed that the Ghanaian ambassador was scheduled to complete her diplomatic mission at the end of October 2026, while praising her efforts to promote relations and cooperation.
Her diplomatic credentials have also extended beyond the Philippines. Akonor has represented Ghana from Kuala Lumpur while holding diplomatic responsibilities across the region, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of Ghana’s engagement with Southeast Asia. Official diplomatic records in both the Philippines and the region have listed her as Ghana’s ambassador based in Malaysia.
Business and diplomacy converge
The presence of Francis Chua, Carlos Rufino and other business leaders at the farewell highlighted the close relationship between diplomacy and commerce.
Chua remains a prominent figure in the Philippine business and diplomatic community, while Rufino has had a direct connection to Ghana’s consular presence in Manila through his previous role as Ghana’s Honorary Consul.
Their participation reflected the broader network of business leaders, honorary consuls and diplomats helping build people-to-people and commercial ties between the Philippines and African nations.
As Akonor closes her chapter in the Philippines, the bigger question now is what happens next.
With Manila exploring a stronger diplomatic presence in Africa and both countries maintaining growing business and consular links, her farewell may not simply mark the end of a posting.
It could be the beginning of a much bigger Philippine-Ghana partnership.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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