President Mahama Bans Foreign Travel for Boards of State-Owned Enterprises to Cut Government Spending

By: Paakhwesi Faith

Mahama Bans Foreign Travel for Boards of State-Owned Enterprises to Cut Government Spending

President John Dramani Mahama has banned board members of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and other public institutions from travelling abroad for training, conferences, retreats and study programmes as part of efforts to reduce government expenditure.

The directive, issued from the presidency, forms part of measures aimed at enforcing fiscal discipline and cutting down on non-essential public spending.

Under the new policy, board members of SOEs will no longer be allowed to embark on state-funded international trips for workshops, training sessions, conferences or retreats.

Government officials say the decision follows concerns over the increasing cost of foreign travel by board members, which often involves expensive airfares, accommodation, allowances and other logistics.

Authorities have therefore directed that such capacity-building activities should be organised locally within Ghana or conducted virtually where possible.

However, the presidency indicated that exceptions may be granted in special circumstances, but only with proper justification and approval from the Office of the President.

The move is part of broader efforts by the government to streamline public spending and redirect resources toward priority sectors of the economy.

Source: Locotvgh