Lesley Akyaa Opoku Ware

Her Royal Highness
Lesley Akyaa Opoku Ware
An African woman in traditional dress stands beside a red and blue flag
Opoku Ware in 2019
Born
Oheneba Lesley Akyaa Opoku Ware

Kumasi, Ashanti Kingdom, Ghana
NationalityGhanaian
Occupations
  • Physician
  • businessperson
  • ambassador
Known forAmbassador to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Russia
Children5

Her Royal Highness Oheneba Lesley Akyaa Opoku Ware is a Ghanaian physician and diplomat. She is the ambassador of Ghana to the Russian Federation.[1] Opoku Ware is also trained as a family physician. In 2017, she was appointed by Ghana's president as the Ambassador to the Russian Federation. She is also the ambassador to several other countries including Armenia.

Early life and education

Oheneba Lesley Akyaa Opoku Ware is the daughter of Victoria (née Victoria Nana Akua Afiiriyie Bando) and Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, the 15th King of the Ashanti Kingdom (Asantehene) hence the prefix of her name, "Oheneba".[2] Both of her parents were from Ashanti royalty; they married in 1945.[3] Lesley is the youngest daughter of the Asantehene. She has two siblings, Gifty Opoku Ware and Nana Osei Opoku Ware.[1] Lesley's father became monarch when he was enstooled in 1970. He was the Asantehene, and was referred to as Otumfuo, or "the highest". Her mother Victoria was unusual in that monarch's wives were not traditionally as influential as the monarch's mother was; Victoria became a ruler and influencer of policy, reportedly helping the King secure the throne.[3][2] As first lady, Victoria had both political and diplomatic duties until her death in 1996.[3][4] Lesley's father died in 1999 and his son did not inherit the title.[3]

Opoku Ware graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin in 1981. She graduated from the Royal College of General Practitioners with a General Practice certificate as a family physician in 2003. (U.K)[1]

Career

Armenia's President Armen Sarkissian and Ghana's Ambassador Lesley Akyaa Opoku Ware in 2019

Opoku Ware spent most of her career in the United Kingdom. She was registered as a family physician specialty with the Ghana Medical and Dental Practice Board in 2013, and worked for the Ghana Health Service for a brief time before embarking on this journey.[1] An international Certificate of Tourism Attractiveness was received by Opoku Ware on behalf of the country for promoting tourism as an integral part of trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation.[5]

Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, commissioned her as Ghana's Ambassador to the Russian Federation on 12 September 2017. On 11 April 2018, she presented her credentials to the President of the Federation, Vladimir Putin. She was still based in Moscow when she presented her credentials in Armenia to President Armen Sarkissian in January 2019.[6][7] Later, in April 2019, she presented her credentials in Moldova and she was assured by Tudor Ulianovschi that Moldova intended to create its own embassy in Ghana to further improve relations.[8]

In 21 June, she was given renewed credentials as the ambassador to Russia. The president, Nana Akufo-Addo, encouraged her and twenty other ambassadors or high commissioners to assist their country in recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] As of 2021, she was ambassador to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Russia.[1]

Personal life

Opoku Ware is married with five children.[10][11]

Recognitions

  • Managing director of Euracare Medical Center in Accra.[11]
  • Chairman of Petronia City Developments (2012 - 2015).[11]
  • Ghana's Ambassador to Russia.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "The Ambassador | The Ghana Embassy, Moscow-Russia". 1 March 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Her Highness Lady Victoria Opoku-Ware II". The Times. London. 23 March 1996. p. 25. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Obituary: King Opoku Ware II of Ashanti". The Independent. 22 October 2011. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Woman Behind the King". The Guardian. London. 28 March 1996. p. 10. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Ghana Gets Certificate Of Tourism Attraction". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  6. ^ "The Ambassador of Ghana presented her credentials to President Armen Sarkissian" (Press release). www.president.am. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Ghana's Ambassador Present Credentials To Armenian President". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Ghanaian ambassador agreed presents copies of credentials to Moldovan foreign ministry". www.moldpres.md. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Akufo-Addo presents credentials to 21 envoys". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Press release on Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov's meeting with Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to Russia Lesley Akyaa Opoku Ware". www.mid.ru. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  11. ^ a b c edemtrends (20 September 2021). "Dr. Lesley Akyaa Opoku Ware: Daughter of Late Asantehene Otumfour Opoku Ware II". Edem Trends GH. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  12. ^ "See the 21 ambassadors, high commissioners who have been presented with their credentials". Graphic Online. Retrieved 12 October 2021.