Gov’t Bans Board-Funded Foreign Trips (Aims to Cut Costs, Boost Fiscal Discipline)
The Government of Ghana has told the boards of state-owned businesses and public institutions to stop all international travel paid for by public funds right away. This is to improve fiscal discipline and keep costs down. The order came from Jubilee House under President John Dramani Mahama and was sent out by Dr. Callistus Mahama, the President’s Secretary. It deals with worries about the rising costs of board trips for conferences, training, retreats, and study tours. While some exceptions may be made with the approval of sector ministers and the Chief of Staff, institutions are encouraged to make local training, virtual participation, or short-term work with international experts in Ghana a top priority. The goal of the measure is to cut down on unnecessary spending, make sure that money is spent on the most important things, and make boards more focused on their governance duties. Ministers are in charge of making sure that all spending is justified.
