By Iddi Yire
Accra, Feb 8, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has instructed that all official foreign trips by ministers and other government appointees be taken with modesty and not on first class tickets, as part of efforts to cut down cost.
The President gave the directive on Friday when he swore in 17 ministers, including eight regional ministers.
“I’ve asked the Chief of Staff to write to all government appointees that I have imposed a ban on non-essential travel forthwith to cut down expenditure,” he stated.
“Any travel that is deemed essential and necessary must be cleared first with the office of the Chief of Staff. As such, travels will have to be undertaken in modesty, no first class.”
He cautioned his ministers and appointees that all traces of affluence and lavish lifestyle were to be avoided.
President Mahama said the people of Ghana were enduring difficult times occasioned by hardships resulting from the economic mismanagement of the last eight years; declaring that “and ours is to work to lift them out of this hole, not to compound it further”.
He said there would be no room for arrogance and pomposity in his government and respect must be given to the Ghanaian people who voted them into power.
“The resources that you’ll be working with belong to the Ghanaian people who put us in office. Those resources are not to be wasted on opulence and extravagance,” he said.
President Mahama said on Monday, February 10, he would receive the report of the Operation Recover all the Loots (ORAL) Committee.
The appropriate action would then be taken against those who were deemed to have acted against the economic and financial interests of the country through corruption and related acts.
“While it is all well and good to hold past office holders accountable for their actions, it is even better to prevent the incidence of corruption in the first place,” the President said.
“And as I’ve already indicated many times, I’ll be holding all my appointees in this government to the strictest standards of accountability to ensure that the mandate and resources entrusted to us by the people of Ghana go only into working for them and improving their standards of living.”
In the coming days, as promised in their 120-day plan, he would be outlawing a code of conduct and standards for all government officials to serve as a guide.
That would leave them in no doubt about what they could do and what not to do while serving in public office.
“You must make this code of conduct your guide and keep it like a Bible by your bedside before you take any action,” President Mahama said.
“I made a sudden pledge in our Resetting Ghana Manifesto to lead by example and to serve with dedication, selflessness and deep love for the country. I intend to fully keep that pledge to the people of Ghana and my biblical instruction.”
The 17 new ministers (nine sector ministers and eight regional ministers) bring the total number of ministers to 42.
The nine sector ministers include Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment; Mr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Environment, Science and Technology; and Mr Samuel Nartey George, Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation.
Others are Mr Iddie Adams, Sports and Recreation; Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, Transport; Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Health, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Foreign Affairs; Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State in-charge of Government Communications; and Mr Seidu Issifu, Minister of State in-charge of Climate Change and Sustainability.
The eight regional ministers are Mrs Charity Gardiner, Ahafo Regional Minister; Mr Salisu Be-Awuribe Issifu, Savannah, Mr Wilbert Petty Brentwum, North West, and Mr Joseph Nelson, Western.
The rest are Mr Joseph Addai Akwaboa, Bono; Mr Francis Owusu Antwi, Bono East; Mr Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, Central; and Mr Puozuing Charles Lwanga, Upper West.
The event was witnessed by Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and other senior government officials.
GNA