Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin and Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas have been chosen by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to serve as the organization's Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General, respectively.

The ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2022 (PP-22), which takes place in Bucharest, Romania, from September 25 to October 14, 2022, has the elections as one of its goals.

The Minister for Communication and Digitalization (MoCD), Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, congratulated the individuals who had just been elected to prominent posts in the ITU body and promised the incoming Secretary-General of Ghana's unwavering support and collaboration at all times.

Commenting on their individual profiles, she said that, Ms. Bogdan-Martin has over the years championed gender digital inclusion and youth empowerment, and that it was a fitting tribute to her tireless efforts that she becomes the first woman to lead the 157-year-old organization.

She added that she was yet another the first female elected for the position of Director of the ITU in 2018, noting therefore that she was confident that Ms. Bogdan-Martin would bring her experience to bear.

Also expressing the best wishes to Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas, the Deputy Secretary-General-Elect of the ITU, the Minister said she believes that he would work hard to assist the General Secretary to ensure the ITU achieves inclusive global connectivity and digital transformation for the benefit of all member-states.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful also assured him of getting the full support of Ghana to enable him to discharge his duties.

“Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General-Elect is the youngest to take this position. Indeed, the ITU resolutions on gender and youth inclusion come to bear that we have already had a team of elected Secretary General and Deputy as a lady and a youth. This has so far been a truly historic ITU Plenipot, the most gender-responsive and youth inclusive ever. To our friends Gisa Fuatai Purcell and Dr. Chaesub Lee, we look forward to your continued support to the ITU,” the Minister stated.

She said that Ghana and all Member States were grateful for the leadership of the out-going Secretary-General of the ITU, Houlin Zhou, and his Deputy, Mr. Malcolm Johnson for the years of service to the ITU, adding that "we wish you a well-earned retirement”.

The Minister used the opportunity to encourage the other competitors who stood for the positions and lost.

She said: “Well fought and better luck next time and we hope to count on your rich experience for the benefit of all ITU Member States”

This year’s ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2022 (PP-22) was the first gender-responsive Plenipotentiary. The ITU aims to reach the target of at least 35% of women participants, up from to 22% of women participants at PP-2014, and 29% at PP-2018.