Ernest-Burke Asare-Asiedu was born at Asato-Akan in the Volta Region of Ghana on April 12, 1959.

He had his primary and secondary school education at Kadjebi-Asato before proceeding to the University of Ghana, Legon, where he obtained BA (Hons) (Political Science) in 1986. Subsequently he obtained the Advanced Diploma in Diplomacy from the German Institute for International Cooperation (DSE), Berlin (1966), and MA in International Affairs from the Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA) (2002).

After five years in political office as District Secretary (Nkwanta, Volta Region), he joined the Ghana Foreign Service in 1993 and has since served in various responsible capacities. Working mainly in the Africa and OAU (later AU) Division, Mr Asare-Asiedu has served as First Secretary, Head of Chancery and Consular Officer, Embassy of Ghana, Cairo, Egypt (1996-2000), and Minister-Counsellor and Head of Chancery; High Commission of Ghana, Freetown, Sierra Leone (2002-2006).

In 1994 he was appointed Assistant Director at the Africa and OAU Bureau of the Foreign Ministry and was on Ghana's team at the Akosombo, Accra and Abuja peace negotiations on Liberia. From 2000 to 2002 he was at the International Organisations and Conferences Bureau.

A career diplomat, Ernest-Burke Asare-Asiedu has traveled widely in Africa and the Middle East and has attended a string of conferences, including a number of ECOWAS Ministerial and Summit meetings, from 1994 to 1996. He was Leader of the Government of Ghana delegation to the 15th Commonwealth Education Ministries Africa/Europe Mid-Term Review Conference, in Freetown, Sierra Leone (14-16 November 2005).

Since October 2006 he has been the Acting Director of the Estates and General Services Bureau of the Ghana Foreign Ministry.

CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE ESTATES AND GENERAL SERVICES BUREAU

The core functions of the Estates and General Services Bureau (EGSB) are two fold:
(i) the maintenance and development of movable and immovable properties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) at base and abroad and (ii) ensuring that the basic utilities and services required by the MFA for its optimal functioning are available and adequate, in both qualitative and quantitative terms. The Bureau's activities are realised within the framework of the policy objectives of the Ministry i.e.
(a) Promoting and protecting the supreme interests of Ghana;
(b) Promoting and protecting the interest of Ghanaian nationals abroad;
(c) Upgrading of human and institutional capacity for the efficient
execution of Ghana's foreign policy;
(d) Promoting/developing and sustaining cordial and mutually beneficial relations between Ghana and each of her neighbouring countries;
(e) Strengthening continental ties within the context of ECOWAS and the African Union as well as realisation of the objectives of NEPAD;
(f) Co-ordinating and facilitating the export of Ghanaian products abroad and attracting foreign direct investments into Ghana;
(g) Promoting Ghana as an important partner in good governance and a haven for private sector investment.

A. REHABILITATION WORK
Working closely with its consultants, the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL), the EGSB undertakes refurbishment and rehabilitation works within the main Ministry at home as well as subsidiary institutions/entities under its purview i.e. the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA), Adu Lodge and the International Students' Hostel. The provision of furniture, equipment (e.g. fax machines, computers, photocopiers) and improvement of the environment and ambience of the Ministry for a more efficient delivery of services are regular undertakings of the Bureau.

Similarly, rehabilitation programmes for some of our Missions abroad are initiated with a view to enhancing the image of the country as well as facilitating the delivery of Consular Services. New Ghana Missions are provided with residential and office accommodation as well as vital equipment to make them functional.

RECIPROCAL EXCHANGE OF LAND AND PROPERTIES
In furtherance of the Government's policy for Ghana Missions abroad to own landed properties, the Ministry has entered into arrangements with some countries for reciprocal exchange of land and/or properties. It has accordingly been the EGSB's task to facilitate the provision of serviced plots and residential accommodation for resident Missions whose home Governments have extended similar facilities to Ghana.

NEW OFFICE COMPLEX
The Ministry itself is still seeking sources of finance, both on the local and international markets, to enable it to begin the construction of new offices at the
former International Students' Hostel, near the Accra International Airport. The project is estimated to cost ¢44.4 billion.

B. COMPUTERISATION OF FOREIGN SERVICE
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to pursuing an active information and communication technology (ICT) policy as a strategy for accelerating the growth and development of the products and services that the Ministry offers the publics it serves. As the front-runner in the formulation and implementation of this policy, the Estates and General Services Bureau seeks to facilitate, through the use of ICT, effective coordination between the Ministry and its 46 Missions, on the one hand and the Ministry and other stakeholders, including the Seat of Government, other MDA's and the seventy-seven resident Foreign Diplomatic Missions in Ghana, on the other, all with a view to promoting Ghana's interests abroad.

Specific tasks in the Ministry's ICT Strategy include the following:

l Modernise its library with the introduction of ICTs to enhance its usefulness as a Foreign Affairs Research Library.
l Strengthen the Policy Planning and Research Bureau of the Ministry by ensuring that all officers in the Bureau are computer literate and equipped with individual computers linked to the internet, extranet.
l Establish database to ensure efficient storage and retrieval of data on foreign policy and trade, investment and tourism;
l Update and enhance the Ministry's website on a regular basis;
l Create a platform for dialogue with all stakeholders and end-users of the Ministry's services;
l Equip and network each of Ghana's Diplomatic Missions abroad;
l Create a platform for dialogue with all stakeholders and end-users of the Ministry's services;
l Equip and network each of Ghana's Diplomatic Missions abroad;
l Ensure that each of the Missions abroad establishes a website and database for the promotion of Ghana's vital interests abroad.

C. PROMOTION OF "MADE IN GHANA"
GOODS AND CONFERENCE HOSTING
In line with its new strategy of 'Economic Diplomacy' the Ministry has formulated a new policy that makes it mandatory for Ghana Missions abroad to look to Ghana for the supply of their needs in office and residential furniture. As the implementing agency, the EGSB facilitates the procurement of the furniture items and their subsequent export to the Missions.

The Accra International Conference Centre, under the management of the EGSB, has maintained its premier position in the country as a venue for major international seminars, workshops and conferences as well as prestigious cultural programmes. A new initiative that is rapidly unfolding aims to catapult the centre into the mainstream of sought-after conference venues in the entire West African sub-region. The objectives, in the final analysis, is to enhance the image of the country as a safe and ideal venue for international social and business programmes.