UK announces new British High Commissioner to Ghana

UK Appoints Christian Rogg as New High Commissioner to Ghana

Christian Rogg has been named the new British High Commissioner to Ghana. He will replace Harriet Thompson in July 2025. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office announced this change on April 17.

Rogg is an experienced diplomat with over two decades in international development. He has previously served in Ghana, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Vietnam, and the UK. From 2006 to 2009, he was Head of the Governance and Growth Team in Accra.

Currently, Rogg is the Director for Development and Open Societies at the FCDO. He has held this position since 2023.

Harriet Thompson has been in her role since 2021.

Former High Commissioner Jon Benjamin Dismissed from New Role

Jon Benjamin, a former British High Commissioner to Ghana, was recently dismissed from his new post in Mexico. He was sacked after an incident where he pointed an assault rifle at a local embassy employee.

This incident occurred during an official trip to Durango and Sinaloa. A video captured him pointing the gun at a colleague while traveling. Reports indicate that foreign officials usually travel with armed staff in dangerous areas like these.

Benjamin served as High Commissioner to Ghana from 2014 to 2017. He gained attention for his controversial tweets on various topics during his tenure.

UK Increases Visa Fees

The UK recently announced significant increases in visa fees starting April 9, 2025. The Electronic Travel Authorisation fee rose from $12 to $20.

For example, the Standard Visitor Visa increased by 10%, from £115 to £127. The two-year visa now costs £475 instead of £432. The five-year visa increased from £771 to £848, while the ten-year visa rose from £963 to £1,059.