The creation of Accra Diplomatic Club (ADC) is an initiative of a group of diplomats from Missions of various countries and of 
.com, the website of Ghana’s expatriate community.
See information about the launch reception and about the last event
Other groups linked to the Diplomatic Community are the Association of Spouses of Heads/Deputies of International Missions (ASOHOM) and the United Nations Spouses' Association of Ghana (UNSAG)
NOTE: the Team running the Club is looking for diplomats to join them. Please contact us at adc@accraexpat.com. The Club is also missing contact points in several Missions to ensure good circulation of our messages. Please volunteer at the same email address. Thank you.
Purpose of the Accra Diplomatic Club
The main objectives of the Accra Diplomatic Club (ADC) are to:
- provide a privileged meeting venue by which a sense of common professional identity and collegiality may be developed by Members of the Foreign Service and ties/links between the Missions and the diplomats be strengthened,
- maintain a calendar of regular events to give expression to this sense and to foster social relations among them, their spouses or partners,
- encourage the sharing and use of the specialized knowledge, experience and background of diplomats posted in Ghana, providing them with an opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the country’s political, economic and social affairs, to extend their contacts and broaden their professional experience
- assist in the integration of diplomats in Ghana.
Who can take part?
The Accra Diplomatic Club (ADC) is established for the members of the Diplomatic Corps of Ghana (foreign-based staff of diplomatic, consular and trade Missions and of bilateral cooperation agencies), accredited staff of international organizations and staff of Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. Ghana's Diplomatic Corps is estimated to represent over 750 persons plus about 350 spouses.
At a second stage, former Ghana High Commissioners, Board Members of bilateral Chambers of Commerce, a number of Ghanaian government officials and dignitaries and Foreign Media will be invited to join as Associate Members.
Club activities will often involve various private and public organizations in Ghana.
There will be no membership fees for the 2011/2012 year.
Organisation and management
ADC is an informal group that is not registered and has no formal structure.
It is managed by a Team of volunteers, Members of Ghana’s Diplomatic Corps, on an open rotational basis, in partnership with .com, represented by its Editor.
Input and feedback is provided by all Members on a continuous basis by email, at events or through the Suggestion Box.
Costs and financing
There are no human resources cost as all involved are volunteers giving their time to the Club.
Financing comes from:
- Mission memberships,
- annual support from partners and sponsors,
- occasional contributions by Missions, partners and sponsors,
- eventual surpluses from special events,
Individual Membership fees will be considered for the 2012/2013 year.
Events may be self-financed by attending Members (tickets, cash bar,)
A permanent and transparent reporting is available upon request.
Club activities
ADC proposes regular, annual and irregular events. Most are for diplomats only but some are open to Missions staff, the expatriate community at large and/or Ghanaian nationals. Events are managed by ADC’s Team and volunteers Members
Regular Activities
ADC Monthly Happy Hour NEXT DATE: FEBRUARY 16, 2012
On the third Thursday of the month from 6 tp 8pm at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel poolside.
Debates
Three to four debates will be organized in 2012 with a presentation made by invited speakers followed by Q&A. Weekday - 4 to 7pm - presentation/debate/cocktail.
The debates will take place at Coconut Grove Regency Hotel.
Annual Events
September - Welcome Reception
The Accra Diplomatic Club held its first Welcome Reception on September 30, 2011 at La-Palm Royal Beach Hotel where the Diplomatic community welcomed singles and families newly posted in Ghana.
December - Christmas Party.
March - Tempo Latino Rio Carnival Party.
May - Ambassadors Ball.
Gala evening in high-end venue.
June - Annual meeting
Inviting all Members to exchange on ADC’s past year and future before many leave Ghana.
Projected:
Visit of MFA HQ during which a senior official of MFA would give Members a tour d'horizon of the department’s history and affairs and of foreign policy issues.
UNICEF Christmas Cards and Gift Sale.
ADC would sponsor UNICEF’s annual Christmas card and gift sale.
Irregular Events
Various events
Parties and get-togethers (in collaboration with Missions or not).
Sporting events (beach volley and tennis tournaments, etc.).
Discovering Accra and the Accra region: programme of visits with moments of resting and friendship, discovering parts of town and institutions, local events and leisure.
Partnerships: the Accra Diplomatic Club supports and partners with various events, such as the annual Inter-Embassy Games in October and the concert/dinner "The influence of Igor Stravinsky on Jazz" (a Loud & Clear Productions) on October 7, 2011.
Proposed Club activities (volunteers are needed to start those programs)
Welcome Network «Is it hard to integrate in Ghana?”
ADC’s Welcome Network is there to help diplomats’ relocation to Ghana be a success.
The Welcome Network will be composed of diplomat volunteers and of the Editor of .com, working in collaboration with the Community Liaison Offices of the Missions which have one, while being assisted by a network of resources.
The volunteers have a good knowledge of Accra and Ghana, are multilingual and know about the challenges facing newly posted diplomats. They organise and animate the programs of activities for new arrivals in Ghana:
- the Welcome line: a helpline where newcomers can get answers to their questions,
- neighbourhood contacts: volunteers living in each area which can be contacted,
- newcomers get-togethers: opportunities to meet face-to-face and discuss issues, understand how Ghana works, its cultural and leisure offer, how to integrate and network, etc.
The Spouse Circle
Spouses and partners of diplomats take charge of their own program of activities under ADC.
Language exchange
With the language exchange programme, diplomats can enjoy ADC’s cultural diversity and the multiple nationalities posted in Accra to practice and improve their knowledge in languages in exchange for theirs.
Speaking events – Diplomat experiences – VIP’s
By those posted here – by visiting VIP’s, from missions or not
Venues
Events are held in various hospitality and public venues, official residences or Missions, private homes, etc.
Communication
Besides internal communication, events are listed on .com Calendar of events under the Accra Diplomatic Club category (and official receptions in the Social Calendar).
Ghana Diplomatic List
An updated Diplomatic List will be maintained with the assistance of and for the benefit of Missions.The page will start with a list of new HOM, with their picture and bio.
Forum
A dedicated “Accra Diplomatic Club” theme will be available in .com Forum.
This Forum will be restricted to ADC. Once the password is entered, visitors are able to view, contribute to and create a variety of thread topics.
News from the Missions in Ghana
Missions are invited to send their news to ADC (visiting delegations, events, etc.).
See the News posting about the new Ambassadors accredited to Ghana since summer 2011.
Articles
ADC will publish articles of interest from various sources (also submitted by diplomats and Missions).
NOTE: Two quarterly diplomatic publications are available in Ghana. The Diplomat Magazine re-launched early 2011 and published by Coco's Production and The Ghanaian Envoy, published by the Public Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, are distributed to all Missions in Accra. Ask for a copy. Should they not be found at your Mission, you can request copies at katherine@cocosproduction and at mfarinewsletter@gmail.com respectively.
Opinions
This is a space where contributions from diplomats on subjects of interest will be published after approval from ADC.
Suggestions box
Diplomats give their input and feedback on the functioning of ADC on a continuous basis. For now, this is done through the Club's email address adc@accraexpat.com
Partners and Sponsors
Corporations have the opportunity to support ADC on an annual basis and/or to sponsor events in goods or kind after being approved by and registered at ADC.
ADC services (project)
Discounts from approved/recommended goods and services providers are offered to diplomats.
ADC WEBSITE
To allow better communication within Ghana’s diplomatic community and with diplomats abroad ahead of their relocation, ADC will have a presence online.
ADC’s website will be hosted on www..com with the same dedicated direct access from the Home page. The sitemap will match the structure of the above presentation.
A password system will be set so access to the following web pages remains confidential:
- Ghana Diplomatic List,
- financial reporting,
- Forum,
- Opinions,
- Suggestions box.
The password will be sent by mail and changed every three month.
ADC TEAM AND CONTACTS
ADC’s founding Team
Christian Joly (French Embassy)
Theofilos Pizanias (Consulate of Greece)
Wael Esam Fathy A. El.-Sisi – (Egyptian Embassy)
and ADC’s partner, www..com (Claude Charronneau, Editor)
The Team can be contacted via email at adc@accraexpat.com
