Ghana’s Ambassador-designate to Italy, H.E. Mona Quartey, and Ambassador to the Vatican, H.E. Ben Assorow, have paid a courtesy call on the Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, as part of their introductory engagements ahead of their diplomatic duties in Rome.

The meeting, held on Thursday, 11 December 2025, offered the envoys an opportunity to formally introduce themselves and discuss areas of mutual interest between Ghana, Italy and the Vatican.

The delegation also included the spouse of the Ambassador-designate to Italy, Arch. Ian Quartey. The engagement was first announced in a post on the official Facebook page of the Ghana Embassy in Rome.

According to the Embassy, the visit formed part of ongoing consultations as the newly appointed envoys prepare to assume their roles.

The courtesy call also allowed the diplomats to explore areas for deeper collaboration with the Vatican, particularly in education, humanitarian initiatives and global scientific cooperation through the Pontifical Academies of Sciences.

Ambassador-designate Mrs. Mona Quartey and her colleague ambassadors were commissioned by President John Dramani Mahama at a ceremony in Accra on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Her appointment is widely regarded as a strong addition to Ghana’s diplomatic corps, given her extensive professional background.

Mrs Quartey brings more than three decades of experience in finance, economic strategy, treasury management and risk analysis. She holds a BSc in Development Planning, an MBA in Finance, and an LLM in International Commercial Law. She previously served as Group Treasurer of Ashanti Goldfields, where she played a central role in the company’s listing on the New York, London and Ghana stock exchanges.

Her career includes senior executive positions at American Express and Citibank NA, as well as service as Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Finance. She is noted for her leadership at a time when Ghana recorded zero central bank financing in 2016—a feat attributed partly to her fiscal management expertise.

Mrs Quartey has also served on major public and private sector boards, including Golden Star Resources PLC (now Chifeng Gold). She was named one of the “100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining” by Women in Mining UK in 2018 and received a lifetime achievement award at the 2023 Ghana Mining Industry Awards.

She is a fellow of the West African Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (WAIMM).

The meeting with Cardinal Turkson marks one of the first official engagements of Ghana’s new envoys as they begin diplomatic responsibilities in Italy and the Vatican.