Mahama: Ghana Must End $15m Annual Rent Bill for Diplomats
President John Dramani Mahama has declared that Ghana can no longer sustain the annual cost of renting properties abroad for its diplomatic missions, which currently exceeds $15 million. He described the expense as wasteful and pledged to reverse the trend.
Speaking at the Jubilee House during the swearing-in of 18 newly appointed ambassadors and high commissioners, the President said Cabinet has approved a new programme, the Strategic Transition from Rental to Developing our Own Properties (STRIDE) initiative, to cut down costs.
“This is not a judicious use of taxpayers’ resources, and the reset agenda requires an immediate reversal of this trend. That is why Cabinet has approved the STRIDE initiative,” he stated.
President Mahama also reminded the envoys that their appointments were a call to national duty, urging them to serve with humility and dedication rather than personal interest. After administering their oaths of office, he handed them their instruments of appointment, with Ambassador Victor Emmanuel Smith, Ghana’s envoy to Washington, speaking on behalf of his colleagues to express gratitude for the trust placed in them.
The remarks come amid heightened debate over the cost of running Ghana’s foreign missions. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa recently disclosed that rental costs for diplomats amount to around $15 million each year. He said the Ministry had already begun steps to acquire at least two official properties annually abroad, adding that property ownership would reduce long-term spending while improving security and dignity for Ghanaian diplomats.
Mr Ablakwa, however, cautioned that neglect of existing government-owned buildings abroad remains a serious challenge, with many facilities deteriorating to the point of endangering the health and safety of staff.
