Benjamin Kofi Quashie, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa with concurrent accreditation to Swaziland, Mauritius, Mozambique, Lesotho and Seychelles, has pledged to strengthen Ghana’s diplomatic ties by driving more foreign direct investments into the country. 

The pledge, he says, is in line with President Mahama’s directives to new Ghanaian envoys ot the effect that the country’s mission had evolved into paths of economic engagement, facilitating trade, attracting investments, and promoting innovation.

 According to the High Commissioner, the relationship between Ghana and South Africa is one of strong cooperation that is characterised by diplomatic and economic ties.

He says the two countries are key players at the African Union (AU) level and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), opening up trading possibilities to Ghanaians to South Africa and vice versa on a person-to-person level.

Benjamin Quashie says he will serve as chief advocate for Ghana’s tourism potential to both South African Investors and other Investors with business interests in South Africa.

He adds that he will ensure easy access to Consular services for Ghanaian citizens in South Africa as and when they need it, without having to go through the kind of struggle and exploitation they have been subjected to in the very recent past.

Mr. Quashie also promised to work to increase the representation of Ghanaian professionals in the Eastern Cape and other areas, and promised a proactive outreach and better communication from the High Commission.

His commitment to ensuring responsiveness and community engagement at the diplomatic mission aligns with ongoing calls from Ghanaians abroad for more accessible and service-oriented representation.

Mr. Quashie is committed to championing the interests of Ghanaians in South Africa, calling for continued law-abiding behaviour among the diaspora while assuring that the incoming High Commissioner would prioritise unity, protection, and effective service delivery for the Ghanaian population in South Africa.

The distinguished statesman brings many years of experience in foreign affairs to his new role as High Commissioner to South Africa.

So who is Benjamin Quashie? 

Benjamin Kofi Quashie was the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress's (NDC) council of elders in South Africa prior to his appointment. 

The founder and president of the BKQ Foundation, Benjamin Quashie, is well-known both domestically and abroad for his charitable endeavours.

He was instrumental in boosting widespread support for President John Mahama and the NDC among the diaspora in the run-up to the national elections in December 2024.

Mr. Quashie, a well-known member of the NDC, is a strong supporter of diaspora participation in national development and has made significant progress in that area.

EDUCATION

Benjamin Quashie is a graduate of the University of Cumbria's Robert Kennedy College with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts, with a Bachelor of Science (BSc.).

In addition, he has multiple degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom in the areas of business, international relations, political economy, public policy advancement, and real estate economics and finance.

Also, he served as a Senior Fellow at the African Youth Chamber, where he assumed important roles such as promoting youth-focused policies at the national and regional levels, ensuring that the opinions of young people are heard in decision-making processes, and facilitating partnerships between governments, Non-Governmental Organisations, the private sector, and international organisations to advance youth development initiatives.

WORK

Benjamin Quashie is a business mogul with a conglomerate of companies both in and outside Ghana.

He is the founder and president of BKQ Foundation, a philanthropic organisation dedicated to helping people, especially the needy.

He also worked as the Executive Director of the Commonwealth Youth Chamber, where he represented the interests of young people across the 56 Commonwealth nations, advocating for policies that promote youth development, education, and economic empowerment.

He also launched a flagship entrepreneurship programme that has supported over 500 young entrepreneurs in starting and scaling their businesses, among several other achievements the area of business and national development.