President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Cabinet has approved a new rent ceiling for Ghana’s envoys abroad, a move he says will curb wastage and improve the prudent use of state resources. The measure is expected to significantly cut down the more than 15 million dollars Ghana spends annually on renting properties for its diplomatic missions.
The President made this known at the Presidency in Accra during the swearing-in of 11 new High Commissioners and Ambassadors.
The newly appointed envoys have been tasked to aggressively promote Ghana and attract investments in key sectors such as trade, health, agriculture and tourism. President Mahama stressed that they must serve as chief ambassadors of Ghana’s renowned hospitality, and project the country as a beacon of democracy, stability and opportunity.
He explained that the envoys are expected to drive economic diplomacy by prioritising export promotion, investment attraction, tourism marketing and diaspora mobilization, areas that now form part of their key performance indicators set by the Presidency.
President Mahama further urged the diplomats to champion his “reset agenda” by showcasing Ghana as an open and reliable partner for mutually beneficial cooperation. He emphasized that safeguarding the public purse must remain a key priority, hence the introduction of the new rent ceiling to eliminate waste.
He also charged the envoys to conduct themselves in ways that uplift Ghana’s image and reputation on the global stage, and to pay particular attention to the welfare of Ghanaians living abroad by offering them support and renewed hope.
