Oriel Paiyagala Linyanage recieving a plaque from Ablakwa(right)
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto, has honoured Mr. Oriel Chinthaka Ariyaratna Paiyagala Linyanage, a locally recruited driver at Ghana’s embassy in France, with a fully sponsored trip to Ghana, fulfilling his lifelong dream of visiting the country he has served for over four decades.
Oriel, originally from Sri Lanka, was recruited on 8 September 1984 and has dedicated 41 years to supporting Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Paris.
His late father, also a driver at the embassy, never had the opportunity to visit Ghana.
The award, presented during the embassy’s carols service, includes visits to tourist attractions, gifts, and a cash prize in recognition of Oriel’s outstanding service.
Foreign Minister Okudzeto also celebrated other long-serving locally recruited staff abroad, including:
Mr. Evans Aryeequaye Attoh, driver at the Rome embassy for 36 years;
Mrs. Caroline Nkrumah-Appiah, stenographer at the New York mission for 35 years;
Mr. Philip Twum Nkansah, Accounts Assistant at the Rome embassy for 35 years.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has introduced this annual long-service and best-performing staff award scheme to motivate, promote inclusivity, and enhance productivity among locally recruited employees in Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad.
