"You will be the star of Britain that came to Ga and changed everything" — Ga Mantse to new British High Commissioner

The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has extended a heartfelt welcome to the newly appointed British High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency Dr. Christian Rogg, during a courtesy call at the Ga Mantse Palace in Accra on Wednesday.

In a beautiful exchange that underscored the historical and cultural ties between the Ga State and the United Kingdom, the King offered his blessings and encouragement to the new envoy, expressing hope for a transformative and fruitful tenure.

“We pray that our soil enables you, strengthens you, and gives you the tenacity to succeed. One day, you will be that star of Britain that came to Ga and changed everything,” the Ga Mantse declared.

He commended the UK’s hospitality toward the Ghanaian community, especially the Ga people living in Britain, referencing a previous visit to London where he and other traditional leaders celebrated the Homowo Festival with the diaspora.

“The protocols, the security, the respect — it all showed the depth of our connection,” the King noted. “As diverse as our cultures may be, we have flowed into each other.”

The Ga Mantse emphasized key areas for collaboration, including education, youth development, and technology — particularly emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence.

He also highlighted the recently launched Ga Youth Forum as a potential avenue for UK-Ga partnerships to empower the next generation.

Mr. Rogg, who previously served in Ghana between 2006 and 2009, said returning to Accra felt like “coming home,” and expressed readiness to deepen bilateral cooperation not just at the national level, but within communities as well.

On his part, the newly appointed British High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency Dr. Christian Rogg reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening relations with Ghana, particularly at the community level.

He described the call on the Ga Mantse as an important step in reinforcing the deep historical and cultural ties between the UK and the Ga State.

“Now that the formal protocol between our two countries has been completed, we thought it was important for me to call on you and introduce myself early in my tenure,” Mr. Rogg stated.

He noted that the longstanding relationship between Ghana and the UK has evolved significantly in recent years, grounded in mutual respect and shared values.

“I’m very honoured now to have the opportunity, as the British High Commissioner, to drive forward the next part of that journey,” he said.

Mr. Rogg, who previously lived in Ghana between 2006 and 2009, said returning to Accra feels like "coming home," citing fond memories of his earlier posting. He emphasized that UK-Ghana cooperation spans both global challenges and local community-based efforts, and he is keen to explore further opportunities to deepen those connections.

“We want to make sure that the connections between our countries and our people are strong, and that we can support each other where there is an opportunity to improve things,” he added.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith