Main purpose of job:

The EO Political Officer will play a important new role in helping the BHC build understanding of, and access to, Ghana-beyond-Accra. There are three key aspects to the role: organising high impact visits; building networks in Ghana’s regions; and political reporting. (Note this does not cover Northern Ghana which sit with another team).  

The role holder will lead on all inward and outward visits supported by the Political and Governance Team.  The job holder will organise impactful visits by the High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner, Political Counsellor, and senior visitors from London to Ghana’s regions. This will involve working with the HC, the HC’s Outer Office, and Team Leaders across the BHC and other government departments, both to organise visits, and to develop strong briefing.  

The role holder will also lead on other inward visits hosted or supported by the P&G team, and will organise occasional trips by senior Ghanaians to the UK and beyond as and when these are supported by P&G projects.

The role will also lead on relations with regional political structures, with civil society organisations based in the regions, and traditional leaders and religious leaders.

The role will lead on political reporting as relates to Ghana’s regions.

Beyond these three tasks, a large proportion of the job-holder’s time will be spent in support of the team’s routine political work, including reporting on national politics, routine liaison with senior political contacts (including on issues such visas), and leading on most events. The role holder will also be called upon to support other political work, in particular on elections in the run up to 2024.

The successful candidate will draw on their existing network, and build new contacts, in order to deliver the high-quality visits and analysis set out above.

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Politically astute and able to build a strong network of political and other contacts, which support UK objectives in Ghana
• Ability to organise complex visit programmes, with demonstrable experience in planning, logistics, and briefing. Must enjoy attention to detail.
• A strong understanding of Ghanaian government structures, the political agenda and international interest in Ghana.
• Ability to work effectively within a small team and experience of collaboration, empowering others and strong team work.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and influencing skills; confidence in dealing with government officials at all levels. An understanding of institutional protocols.
• Confidence to deal with sensitive issues using tact and discretion.