President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghana’s ambassadors and high commissioners to uphold financial discipline and integrity in their stewardship of public resources while representing the country abroad.
Speaking at a ceremony in Accra, the President reminded the envoys that the Public Financial Management Act and other regulations must guide their operations in order to protect the national interest.
“The Public Financial Management Act and all relevant regulations must guide your stewardship of public resources that are put in your care. I urge you to guard the public purse with diligence and ensure that efficiency, service, and ethical governance, the very values we are entrenching at home, shine through in every mission abroad,” President Mahama said.
The President further described Ghana’s current practice of spending millions of dollars annually on rented diplomatic properties as unsustainable and inconsistent with the government’s Reset Agenda.
“Let me be emphatic, Ghana cannot continue spending a staggering more than $15 million every year on renting properties abroad for our diplomatic use. This is not a judicious use of taxpayers’ resources, and the reset agenda requires an immediate reversal of this trend,” he stressed.
To tackle the problem, Cabinet has approved a new policy dubbed the STRIDE initiative, which stands for Strategic Transition from Rental to Developing our own properties. The initiative is aimed at gradually eliminating rental costs by acquiring state-owned facilities for Ghana’s missions abroad.
“That is why the Cabinet has promptly approved the STRIDE initiative. STRIDE refers to the strategic transition from rental to developing our own properties. I have tasked the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Finance to work urgently to resolve this long-standing challenge,” President Mahama revealed.
He explained that preparations are already underway for the rollout of the program. “From my latest briefing, a transaction advisor has been appointed, standard designs are being developed, and funding mechanisms are already being negotiated,” he noted.
According to the President, the move will not only save the country over $15 million annually but also enhance Ghana’s image and dignity on the global stage.
“This decisive shift will ensure that our missions abroad are housed in properties that are owned by the Republic, reducing wasteful expenditure while safeguarding Ghana’s dignity on the international stage,” he added.
The STRIDE initiative is expected to be implemented in phases, starting with Ghana’s most expensive missions abroad, with the long-term goal of ensuring that all diplomatic offices operate from state-owned premises.
