Ghana's Ambassador to Italy Meets Cardinal Turkson in Rome
Ghana’s newly appointed Ambassador-designate to Italy, H.E. Mona Quartey, and Ambassador to the Vatican, H.E. Ben Assorow, have commenced introductory engagements in Rome with a courtesy call on Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences.
The meeting, which took place on Thursday, December 11, 2025, allowed the envoys to formally introduce themselves and explore avenues for strengthened relations between Ghana, Italy, and the Vatican.
Arch. Ian Quartey, spouse of the Ambassador-designate to Italy, accompanied the delegation. The Ghana Embassy in Rome first announced the visit on its official Facebook page.
According to the Embassy, the courtesy call is part of ongoing consultations as the ambassadors prepare to fully assume their diplomatic roles. Discussions centered on potential collaboration in education, humanitarian efforts, and scientific cooperation through the Pontifical Academies of Sciences.
The envoys were commissioned by President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in Accra. Mrs. Quartey’s appointment has been lauded as a significant boost to Ghana’s diplomatic representation, given her extensive experience.
Mrs. Quartey brings over three decades of expertise in finance, economic strategy, treasury management, and risk analysis to her new role. She holds a BSc in Development Planning, an MBA in Finance, and an LLM in International Commercial Law.
Prior to her appointment, she served as Group Treasurer of Ashanti Goldfields, playing a key role in the company’s listings on the New York, London, and Ghana Stock Exchanges. Her career also includes senior positions at American Express and Citibank NA, as well as a stint as Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Finance.
She is particularly recognized for her leadership during a period when Ghana achieved zero central bank financing in 2016, a success attributed in part to her fiscal management skills. Mrs. Quartey has also served on the boards of Golden Star Resources PLC (now Chifeng Gold) and received accolades including being named one of the “100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining” by Women in Mining UK in 2018 and a lifetime achievement award at the 2023 Ghana Mining Industry Awards.
She is a fellow of the West African Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (WAIMM). This engagement with Cardinal Turkson signifies the start of official duties for Ghana’s new representatives in Italy and the Vatican.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
