President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana has imposed an immediate ban on international travels by boards of state-owned enterprises and public institutions for training, conferences, retreats and study tours due to the escalating cost of such trips.
According to the directive issued from the Presidency by the Secretary to the President, Callistus Mahama, such travels by board members had placed significant strain on the public purse.
It explained that the instruction applies to all state-owned enterprises and public institutions, bringing an abrupt halt to a practice the government said had grown both in frequency and expense.
“It has come to the attention of the President that some Boards of State-Owned Enterprises and other public institutions have increasingly undertaken international travel for training programmes, retreats, conferences and study tours,” the directive stated.
While acknowledging the importance of exposure to international best practice and continuous professional development, the government expressed serious reservations about the cumulative cost of such travel, which often involved multiple board members and extended itineraries.
The presidency noted that expenditure on airfares, accommodation, per diems and associated logistics had become a source of concern at a time when firm measures were being implemented to ensure fiscal discipline.
The directive added that the ban is comprehensive and takes effect immediately and that boards are prohibited from undertaking any international travel for training, retreats, conferences or study tours funded directly or indirectly from public resources.
According to local media reports, the directive makes provision for exceptional circumstances where an international engagement is deemed absolutely necessary and cannot reasonably be conducted locally or through virtual means and in such cases, a formal request must be submitted through the sector minister to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, seeking the express approval of the President before any commitments are made.
However, the directive stated that ministers have been instructed to ensure that boards focus their activities primarily on their statutory oversight and governance responsibilities, and that any training or capacity-building initiatives are carefully assessed for value, necessity and cost-effectiveness,
GIK/APA