Australia was one of the first countries to recognise Ghana on its independence from 6 March 1957. The Australian Government sent Frederick Osborne, the Minister for Air, and Keith Brennan from the Department of External Affairs, as well as three RAAFLockheed P-2 Neptune aircraft, to attend and participate in the independence celebrations from 2–10 March.[2] On 27 August 1957, the Minister for External Affairs, Richard Casey, announced the establishment of an Australian High Commission in Accra.[3] On 16 October 1957, Stewart Wolfe Jamieson was announced as the first high commissioner, who assumed duty on 21 February 1958 based in the Ambassador Hotel Accra.[4][5][6]
On 19 August 1974, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Don Willesee, announced the appointment of the high commissioner in Ghana, David Evans, as Australia's first ambassador to Senegal and Ivory Coast, marking the establishment of diplomatic relations with these countries.[7] In October 1981, the high commissioner received non-resident accreditation as the first high commissioner to Sierra Leone.[8] In February 1982, high commissioner Anthony Dingle, presented his commission as Australia's first high commissioner to The Gambia.[9] However, in March 1985 the Foreign Minister, Bill Hayden, announced that due to budgetary pressures and as part of a rearrangement of Australian diplomatic representation in Africa, the high commission in Accra would be closed, with accreditation transferred to High Commission in Nigeria.[10] On his decision, Hayden noted the following to the Australian Parliament's Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence: "The decision to close the High Commission in Accra was not easy. Australia values its good relationship with Ghana and has no wish to give the impression that it is not concerned with or interested in the issues of the area. I have assured the Ghanaian Government that Australia looks forward to maintaining close relations through the accreditation of a non-resident high commissioner."[11]
On 30 June 2004, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer announced the official reopening of the Australian High Commission in Accra, with non-resident accreditation for Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Senegal and Sierra Leone being transferred from the High Commission in Nigeria.[12] In September 2008 the governments of Australia and Liberia agreed to establish diplomatic relations at the ambassador level, with high commissioner Billy Williams becoming Australia's first Ambassador to Liberia from February 2009.[13][14]
^"Ghana". Current Notes on International Affairs. 28 (3). Department of External Affairs: 206. March 1957. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^"Ghana". Current Notes on International Affairs. 28 (8). Department of External Affairs: 646. August 1957. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^ ab"Ghana". Current Notes on International Affairs. 28 (10). Department of External Affairs: 808–809. October 1957. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^ ab"Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 29 (2). Department of External Affairs: 128. February 1958. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^"Australian Overseas Representation". Current Notes on International Affairs. 29 (1). Department of External Affairs: 61. January 1958. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^ ab"Diplomatic appointments". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 52 (10). Department of Foreign Affairs: 520. October 1981. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^ ab"Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 53 (2). Department of Foreign Affairs: 92. February 1982. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^"Diplomatic postings announced". The Canberra Times. ACT. 3 March 1960. p. 2. Mr. S. W. Jamieson, formerly High Commissioner in Accra, Ghana, since the post was opened in February 1958
^"Australian High Commissioner in Ghana". Current Notes on International Affairs. 38 (9). Department of Foreign Affairs: 388. September 1967. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^"Diplomatic appointments". Current Notes on International Affairs. 41 (8). Department of Foreign Affairs: 442. August 1970. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^"First Ambassador to Ivory Coast". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 46 (8). Department of Foreign Affairs: 452. August 1975. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^"Diplomatic appointments". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 48 (5). Department of Foreign Affairs: 274. May 1977. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^"Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 48 (8). Department of Foreign Affairs: 436. August 1977. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^"High Commissioner to Nigeria". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 54 (1). Department of Foreign Affairs: 51. January 1983. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^"High Commissioner to Nigeria". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 57 (6). Department of Foreign Affairs: 553. June 1986. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^Evans, Gareth (19 May 1989). "Diplomatic appointment: Nigeria"(Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
^Evans, Gareth (2 March 1993). "Diplomatic appointment: Nigeria"(Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 3 November 2022.