Ghana Cabinet Approves Historic Host Country Agreement With Holy See

Ghana has cleared a major diplomatic milestone in its relations with the Vatican after nearly 50 years of waiting.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that Cabinet has approved the Host Country Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the Holy See.

He made the disclosure on Friday, October 9, 2026, when he hosted the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Archbishop Julien Kaboré, who is the country representative of the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV.

According to the Minister, the Agreement has been pending since Ghana established formal diplomatic relations with the Holy See and received its first Apostolic Nuncio in 1976.

The Host Country Agreement, which is consistent with the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, outlines the terms of Ghana’s relationship with the Holy See and confers special rights, privileges and immunities on holders of Ecclesiastical Office and the Catholic Faithful in Ghana.

Mr Ablakwa expressed delight that the Government and the Apostolic Nunciature have successfully worked together to resolve the longstanding matter. He commended staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for diligently working to meet the target he set for the agreement.

He also placed on record his appreciation to President John Mahama and the Attorney-General for their personal commitment to the process.

The Cabinet approval now paves the way for Parliament to ratify the agreement under Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution within the next few weeks.

Mr Ablakwa noted that Ghana will remain eternally grateful to the Catholic Church for its extraordinary contributions to the nation’s moral compass and transformative development in education, health and other sectors, where thousands of institutions have been built to shape the country’s destiny.

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