Accra: Two Muslim personalities, Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Umar Sanda Ahmed, a former Imam of the Ghana Armed Forces, and Alhaji Said Saleh Sinare, a former National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have both been sworn in as ambassadors to Mali and Saudi Arabia, respectively.

The two were among five diplomats sworn into office by President John Dramani Mahama on Monday at a ceremony held at the Jubilee House, the official seat of government.

The other diplomats were Kofi Attor—Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba; Emmanuel Opeku—Ambassador-in-Situ; and Regina Appiah-Sam—High Commissioner to the Republic of Malta.

In his remarks the president urged them to embrace a “national reset agenda” by moving beyond routine diplomatic duties towards purposeful and impactful engagement.

“As heads of mission, you are required to reflect this national reset agenda by moving from passive representation to purposeful engagement—from routine reporting to proactive problem solving and from presence to impact,” he stated.

He further stressed that the ambassadors’ work must be closely aligned with Ghana’s development priorities, particularly in promoting economic interests on the global stage.

Lt Col Umar Sanda Ahmed is a distinguished military officer, diplomat, and security expert with extensive experience in religious leadership, governance, and international relations.

Prior to his appointment as ambassador, he was a member of the 2025 Ghana Hajj Taskforce with additional responsibility as the Director of Operations overseeing the coordination and execution of Hajj-related activities.

With over two decades of service as the Chief Imam of the Ghana Armed Forces, Lt Col Ahmed played a crucial role in fostering religious harmony within the military.

His career extended into diplomacy when he was appointed as Ghana’s Ambassador to Egypt, with concurrent accreditation to Lebanon, Sudan, and Cyprus. He served in this capacity until his recall in 2017 following the general elections.

Beyond his military and diplomatic service, Lt Col Ahmed is the Executive Director of the Africa Security and Diplomacy Center, a think tank dedicated to addressing the intersection of security, governance, and diplomacy in Africa.

He is also an active member of the NDC Ambassadors Forum, contributing to discussions on international relations and national development.

Lt Col Umar Sanda Ahmed remains a key figure in security and diplomatic circles, bringing his wealth of experience to bear in both national and international engagements.

He is a product of the University of Ghana, Legon, the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Sinare, the NDC stalwart, was first appointed as ambassador to Egypt in January 2012 by President John Evans Atta Mills to replace Amin Amidu Sulemana after a major reshuffle of his ministers and appointees.

He was later appointed to serve as ambassador to Saudi Arabia in October 2014, a portfolio he held until the NDC left office in 2017.