Global forces determine quality of your daily lives: Amb Baah-Duodu urges IR students to strive for change

…as LECIAD holds orientation for 2025/26 new entrants.

By Ernest Bako WUBONTO

Diplomat-in-Residence at the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD), University of Ghana (UG), Amb. Kwabena Baah-Duodu, has underscored the significant influence of international forces and actors on the quality of life in the local economy.

Speaking at the orientation ceremony for 2025/26 new entrants, held on January 5, 2026 at the LECIAD auditorium – UG Campus, he emphasised that global forces—economic, political, technological and environmental— shape the pattern of everyday life in ways that often feel invisible.

These forces influence local economies in Ghana through mechanisms such as international trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), commodity price volatility and the policies of international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.

The power of ideas and actors

Ambassador Baah-Duodu, who previously served as Ghana’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva and Ambassador to Switzerland and Austria from 2006 to 2008, urged students to view global forces as ‘human constructions’ rather than unchangeable natural phenomena.

He cited the shift toward fee-paying models in public universities as an example of an imported global practice that has reshaped the local educational landscape.

“The actors, usually the great powers in Europe, America and Asia – USA, Great Britain, Russia, China – are not natural entities; they emerge as human constructions and can be changed over time,” he stated.

He challenged the new students to contribute to a narrative shift that ensures international relations work to the benefit of, rather than the detriment of, the Ghanaian people.

For Ghana, as a highly import-dependent nation, he stressed that global commodity prices such as oil, cocoa and gold directly affect local costs of fuel, food and wages, as fluctuations in cocoa prices have ripple effects on farmers’ incomes and communities’ living standards.

Additionally, geopolitical tensions elsewhere, particularly conflicts or sanctions like the Russia-Ukraine War and Donald Trump’s trade sanctions, can disrupt supply chains, leading to shortages or inflation locally.

“Global forces determine the prices of goods, the quality of public services. Movement of people across borders brings remittances, skills and cultural exchange that reshape local communities,” he added.

A call for impactful research

The Acting Director of LECIAD, Prof. Peter Quartey, congratulated the incoming Master’s and PhD students on joining the only combined International Relations and Diplomacy programme in Ghana.

He highlighted that graduate students have the opportunity to reimagine, analyse, explore and contribute to the improvement of the nation’s development and the continent at large.

Prof. Quartey expressed that being among the top one percent of Ghanaians with graduate education is a privilege, and comes with the responsibility to improve the living conditions of fellow citizens.

He urged students to produce knowledge that empowers local communities. “Let your research speak not only to the audience abroad but communities that need your expertise to improve.

“What humans made, others can remake and transform. As you go through your graduate studies, ask better questions, be brave with your ideas, don’t be a coward, as cowards don’t make a great impact,” he said.

He indicated that LECIAD keeps working with the industry collaboratively to enhance the quality of the programme and give students practical experience.

LECIAD is in the process of undertaking a traceability study to know the whereabouts of past students and how they are performing in their respective fields.

On her part, Senior Assistant Registrar, Eccles Andoh, outlined the various guidelines students need to follow and the available facilities students have full and restricted access to.

She also touched on student support systems, further urging students to be responsible for their personal safety and security.

Touching on dress code, she said: “LECIAD has diplomats and high-level dignitaries coming around randomly; hence, students are to always dress either smart casual or formal.”

Addressing modern academic challenges, Senior Research Fellow, Dr. Linda Darkwa, informed students that while the University of Ghana is developing an official AI policy, the use of such tools must be clearly disclosed to avoid charges of plagiarism.

Furthermore, faculty members Dr. Afua Yakohene and Dr. Juliana Appiah provided insights into International Development and Regional Integration, respectively.

Ghana’s first Ambassador to Qatar and visiting lecturer, Emmanuel Enos, urged students to be open-minded and read widely as well as strive to be analytical and critique publications constructively with superior arguments.

Industry collaboration and academic integrity

The orientation highlighted LECIAD’s commitment to bridging the gap between theory and practice.

The curriculum will include regular diplomatic seminars – interactive sessions with foreign diplomats stationed in Ghana to discuss national policies and diplomatic communication; and practical exposure with training in diplomatic entertainment, hospitality and official communication.

LECIAD was an establishment by the nation’s premier university in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to train the staff of the ministry on diplomacy and international relations.

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