President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has warned newly appointed ministers against living expensively while they serve in public office.
Delivering remarks following the swearing-in of the ministers, the president said the responsibility of the new appointees was to help make the lives of Ghanaians better and not worsen it.
He did take a dig at the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration for the present economic difficulties, liking the situation to a ‘hole’.
“All traces of affluent and lavish lifestyle are to be avoided. The people of Ghana are enduring difficult times occasioned by hardships resulting from the economic mismanagement of the last years. And ours is to work to lift them out of this hole, not to compound it further,” the president said Friday.
He made clear to appointees that they were not to travel outside the country on first-class tickets, a directive aimed at cutting down public expenditure and promoting good governance.
“I’ve asked the Chief of Staff to write to all government appointees that I’ve 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, and such travels will have to be undertaken in modesty, no first class.”
President Mahama also warned against “arrogance and pomposity, reminding the new ministers that they will be working for the Ghanaian people.
The ministers who were 17 in total included Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; Minister of Communications, Samuel Nartey George; Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandor and Minister of Sports, Kofi Iddie Adams.
