Sabah Zita Benson

Her Excellency
Sabah Zita Benson
High Commissioner of Ghana to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
Incumbent
Assumed office
2025
PresidentJohn Dramani Mahama
Former Ghana's Ambassador to the Czech Republic
Former Minister for Tourism
Former Minister for Information
Personal details
BornSabah Zita Benson
c. June 1975 (age 50)
OccupationLawyer, diplomat, politician

Sabah Zita Benson (née Sabah Faddool) is a Ghanaian lawyer, diplomat, politician. She has been acting as Ghana's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom since 2025.[1][2]

Early life and education

Born Sabah Faddool to Mr. Joseph Faddool and Madam Rose Odonkor, she embraced the name “Zita” upon her confirmation into the Catholic Church at age 13 during her time at Archbishop Porter Girls’ Secondary School in Takoradi. Her roots in leadership and public performance were evident even then, as a member of the cadet corps, debate team, and a recurring Angel Gabriel in school plays.[3]

Sabah Zita Benson holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Law from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (1996–1999). She earned her LLB from the University of Ghana (2002–2004) and was called to the bar at the Ghana School of Law (2006). She later pursued a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Oil and Gas at the University of Ghana (2012–2014).[4]

Career

Public service

In 2009, she was appointed Ghana's Minister of Information, where she focused on government communication reforms, including the production of the documentary 'The People Must Know'.

From 2010 to 2011, she became the youngest woman appointed as Minister of State in Ghana, serving as Minister of Information and later as Minister of Tourism under President John Evans Atta Mills. Under her leadership was passing of the Tourism Bill, oversaw the establishment of a hospitality training school, and facilitated the opening of tourism offices in New York and London.[5]

She served as Ghana's ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2014 to 2016. Her tenure saw the signing of bilateral agreements with Hungary, including visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders and the re-establishment of Hungary's embassy in Accra.[6] She also served as Ghana's Ambassador to the Czech Republic,[7] with concurrent accreditation to Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and North Macedonia.[8]

As of 2025, she was named Ghana's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Her nomination was formally confirmed in May 2025 and commissioned on 4 September 2025 by President John Mahama in Accra.[9][10] Benson's appointment was the first time a woman was named as Ghana's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.[11][12]

Political and civic engagement

Benson was the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Dome-Kwabenya in the 2008 elections.[13] She has held various leadership roles in political committees and campaigns, including as founder of the Finishing Hard NDC Campaign Team (2022–2024) and co-founder of the Boots on the Ground Campaign for Election 2024.[14][15]

Personal life

She is married to Bobby Benson, a pharmacist.[16] Together, they have 3 children.[17][18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Meet Zita Sabah Benson, Ghana's first female High Commissioner-designate to the UK". www.ghanaweb.com. 31 July 2025.
  2. ↑ "Ambassadorial appointments: Tony Aidoo for Holland, Zita for South Africa". www.adomonline.com. 6 February 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  3. ↑ "Meet Sabah Zita Benson, Ghana's first female High Commissioner-designate to the UK". 3News. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  4. ↑ "The High Commissioner Ghana High Commission". The. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  5. ↑ "History & Institutional Memory". www.motac.gov.gh.
  6. ↑ "Ghana, Hungary sign bilateral relations agreements". Daily Graphic. Accra, Ghana. 15 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "Gov't to build 190 Steel Bridges—Amb. Zita Okaikoi". www.mordenghana.com. 10 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Ghana's High Commissioner-Designate to UK Hails Removal of COVID-19 Levy, Dollar Peg Fix". www.nationaltymes.com. 26 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "Breaking barriers: Sabah Zita Benson makes history as Ghana's first female High Commissioner to the UK - Dominic Senaya writes". 13 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  10. ↑ "Commissioning of Ghana's newly appointed envoy to the U.K. - Thursday, 4th September, 2025". london.mfa.gov.gh. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "Zita Benson Targets Investment, Stronger Ties as Ghana's High Commissioner to UK & Ireland". 3 September 2025.
  12. ↑ "Ghana High Commission". ghanahighcommissionuk.com. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "Elections 2008: Dome/Kwabenya". www.asaaseradio.com. 9 December 2008.
  14. ↑ "NDC Leadership's Obsession with Zita | News Ghana". www.newsghana.com.gh/. 27 May 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "GIIF Engages Ghana's Envoys to Boost Infrastructure Investment". 11 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "Zita remarries, changes maiden name". www.ghanaweb.com. 6 August 2017.
  17. ↑ "The High Commissioner Ghana High Commission". The. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  18. ↑ "Zita and husband for Parliament - MyJoyOnline". Retrieved 10 November 2025.
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