Ghana President Bans Ministers from Foreign Trips.

 Ghana's president bans appointees from foreign travels

Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo has banned all ministers, deputy ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and heads of government agencies from foreign travels.

No reason was given for the new directive but the presidency said the ban was temporary. 

The memo, signed by the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Opare said the minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor-Botchwey is exempted from the directive.

It said that Guidelines in respect of future foreign travels aimed at minimizing disruption to Government’s domestic work will be communicated soon. 

Precious time and resources are frequently wasted on trips while core government activities to drive development are left unattended to. 

The last time a similar travel restriction on government officials was imposed was in December 2015 under the John Mahama government where he banned public officials from first-class air travel as part of efforts to cut wasteful spending. 

Some officials in government have had the cause to complain about incessant travels of some appointees who in most cases are unable to justify why they travelled outside the country. 

A former Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourist Development Company, Akua Djanie recently resigned from her position alleging among other things that her boss, was fond of travelling outside the country, neglecting the core duties at the company.

Most of such travels are on the account of the Ghanaian taxpayer and the presidency believes, they also lead to a serious disruption in local government business.