The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Christian Rogg, has noted that while diplomacy is often dominated by serious statecraft, it is not devoid of moments of joy and warmth. His remarks followed the celebration of King Charles III’s 77th birthday held at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Accra.
The commemorative event brought together diplomats, traditional authorities, development partners, and civil society organisations, with Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, gracing the occasion. The gathering celebrated not only the King’s birthday but also the United Kingdom’s longstanding support and collaboration with Ghana.
After the ceremony, Rogg shared a light-hearted reflection on X, hinting that most people rarely see the fun side of diplomatic life.
“Diplomacy is often a serious business… but we do have fun as well! Great event at the British Residence a few days ago. Thanks to the British High Commission team, our sponsors, partners and friends for making this such a memorable evening,” he wrote.
In his address at the event, Rogg highlighted the significance of partnerships between nations that share values and mutual aspirations, stressing that such relationships strengthen economic stability through meaningful cooperation, trade, cultural exchange and key bilateral agreements.
Ghana’s Minister of Trade, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, described it as an honour to join the celebration, emphasising the impact of UK–Ghana cooperation on national development.
“It is an honour to be here. I convey our warmest greetings and felicitations as we celebrate the birthday of His Majesty King Charles III. The UK’s support for Ghana’s economic stability and its engagement with our security institutions have contributed significantly to our national developmental goals,” she said.
The celebration featured a performance by Ghanaian music sensation Kidi, who thrilled the audience with some of his award-winning hits, adding a vibrant touch to the evening. As the residence of the monarch in Ghana, the night also included opera music, wine, and an assortment of drinks to mark the occasion in style.
The icing on the cake, however, was the presence of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, who attended the ceremony after a productive week in Aburi. During his visit, he joined kindergarten pupils to observe play-based learning, received a traditional kente cloth from the Chief of Aburi, learned about Ghana’s cocoa industry, and planted a tree at the Aburi Botanical Gardens.
At Jubilee House, HRH met President John Dramani Mahama and traditional leaders, and later at the National Sports Stadium he spent time with retired boxing legend Azumah “Zoom Zoom” Nelson, para-boxers, junior tennis players, and even joined in a game of bowl
By: Richmond Ampofo Fordjour
