Ghana’s diplomatic footprint in Africa has received a significant boost with the official commissioning of a new Ghana Embassy Chancery in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

President John Dramani Mahama performed the commissioning ceremony recently in a move that demonstrates Ghana’s commitment to deepening its presence at the heart of African diplomacy.

The new chancery, located in the Ethiopian capital which serves as the headquarters for the African Union, is set to enhance Ghana’s ability to engage with continental bodies and fellow member states.

The development provides modern facilities for diplomatic staff and projects a renewed image of Ghana on the continent.

This move signals a strategic focus on strengthening bilateral relations with Ethiopia and reinforcing Ghana’s role in pan-African affairs.

The improved infrastructure is expected to facilitate more effective diplomatic engagement, trade negotiations, and cultural exchanges.

The commissioning event was attended by Ghanaian and Ethiopian officials, as well as representatives from the African Union, marking a significant milestone in Ghana’s foreign mission infrastructure.

The Ghanaian government has announced it will table a landmark resolution before the United Nations, formally recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity.”

The resolution is scheduled to be presented on March 25, the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

According to an official statement from the Information Services Department, this diplomatic initiative seeks to achieve international consensus on the historical and moral classification of the slave trade.

By bringing this resolution to the UN floor, Ghana aims to solidify global acknowledgment of the scale and enduring impact of the centuries of human trafficking and suffering.

The move positions Ghana at the forefront of a long-standing effort by Caribbean and African nations to seek acknowledgment and promote education about the slave trade’s legacy.

The resolution is expected to call for greater international cooperation to address its contemporary consequences, including systemic racism and inequality.

March 25 will serve as a powerful date for this appeal, as it is already dedicated to honouring the millions of African men, women, and children who were victims.

An Accra Circuit Court has delivered an unprecedented judgment, ordering a businessman in his 60s to pay GH¢200,000 (a little over $18,000 USD) to his former partner for breaching a promise to marry her.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Sedinam Kwadam, highlights the legal weight such promises can carry in long-term cohabitation and the application of equity in property disputes.

Background of the Case
The dispute arose from an 11-year relationship between the businessman and the woman, which lasted from 2013 to 2024. The legal battle began when the businessman filed a suit to eject his former partner from a two-bedroom apartment in East Legon, which he claimed was solely his property.

However, court evidence revealed a more complex story. At the start of their relationship, the property was under construction. While the businessman, who was not resident in Ghana at the time, remitted funds, the woman actively supervised and managed the construction project for four years. By 2017, the apartment was completed, and she moved in at his request. He later joined her upon returning to Ghana.

The Countersuit and Evidence
In response to the ejectment suit, the woman filed a countersuit, asserting that the businessman had promised to marry her—a promise that influenced her major life decisions, including leaving her previous residence. Her evidence included:

• The businessman was presented as an in-law during her father’s funeral, contributed financially, and wrote a tribute.
• He gave her a ring, which she argued was a symbol of commitment, not a casual gift.
• Her extensive role as a foreman on the construction project for four years.

She sought relief including $40,000 USD for breach of promise, the right to remain in the apartment, and retention of a Toyota RAV4 allegedly purchased for her.

Court’s Findings and Judgment
Justice Kwadam found overwhelming evidence that a promise to marry did exist. The ring, long-term cohabitation, public recognition as family, and her significant contributions to the property all pointed to a clear intention to commit.

The court determined the businessman’s termination of the relationship in 2024 constituted a breach. A key factor was the age of both parties—over 60—which the court noted reduced the woman’s prospects of finding another partner after such a long-term commitment.

Applying principles of equity, Justice Kwadam ruled that while the businessman held legal title to the property, the woman held a beneficial interest in the two-bedroom unit due to her substantial contributions. Her right to remain in the apartment was therefore upheld, and the ejectment suit was dismissed.

For the breach of promise to marry, the court awarded GH¢50,000 in general damages and GH¢150,000 in compensation, totaling GH¢200,000. The woman was also allowed to retain the Toyota RAV4, as it was not specifically claimed by the businessman, and was awarded GH¢20,000 in legal costs.

Justice Kwadam’s full reasoning is expected to be published on February 24, 2026, which will provide further legal insight into the creation of the constructive trust and the compensation award.