Ghana cannot keep spending $15m annually on renting properties abroad – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has stated that Ghana cannot continue to spend over $15 million annually on renting properties abroad for its diplomatic use.

He described the expenditure as unjustifiable and insisted that the reset agenda demands an immediate end to the practice.

Speaking at the commissioning of the first batch of 18 new envoys, President Mahama stressed that Ghana cannot afford to keep wasting $15 million every year on rental properties for diplomatic missions. “This is not a judicious use of taxpayers’ resources, and the reset agenda requires an immediate reversal of this trend,” he said.

The President explained that this was the reason the Cabinet had swiftly approved the STRIDE initiative, which stands for Strategic Transition from Rental to Developing their own properties. He disclosed that a transaction advisor had been appointed, standard designs were being prepared, and funding mechanisms were under negotiation.

He added that this decisive shift would ensure Ghana’s missions abroad are housed in properties owned by the Republic, thereby reducing wasteful expenditure and safeguarding the nation’s dignity on the international stage.

President Mahama reminded the envoys that the reset agenda was a shared responsibility requiring coordination between missions abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other ministries, civil society, the private sector, and the Ghanaian diaspora.

“As you assume this noble mandate, remember that your service is not for yourself but for the country and God. Serve with humility, courage and excellence. May your tenure bring renewed favour to Ghana, progress to our people and dignity to every Ghanaian, both at home and abroad,” he charged.

On behalf of his colleagues, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, thanked the President for the honour and pledged that the envoys would work faithfully to advance Ghana’s interests.