Member of Parliament for North Tongu says the country's foreign missions are playing hide and seek with their landlords because of their inability to pay rent.
According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, this is because the Finance Ministry is starving the foreign missions of funds they need to operate.
“The Foreign Ministry has suffered a lot of cuts. If you look at the original budget they presented to the Ministry of Finance, a whopping GH₵171m has been taken out of their budgets.”
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
He added that “even the paltry sums that have been approved”, the Ministry of Finance is refusing to release the money for the Foreign Ministry and their officials to work.
Mr Ablakwa explained the refusal to release funds for the Foreign Ministry, is affecting their productivity.
He told JoyNews’ Kwesi Parker-Wilson that, diplomats have complained adding that “when we engage with them they tell us that they owe so much in rent, utility and they virtually have to be running away from landlords; it does not do our image any good as a country.”
According to Mr Ablakwa, he is concerned the Ministry of Finance is not prioritising the affairs of the Foreign Affairs Ministry nor is it taking seriously their financial needs as is required of them.
The MP stated that the Foreign Affairs Ministry is in charge of executing many of Ghana’s investment drives, however, the current state of many of these foreign missions could drive away potential investors.
“It is important for the president [Nana Akufo-Addo] himself who is a former Foreign Minister, to step in and ensure that there are no continuous cuts,” he added.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey
Addressing the challenge
Reacting to Mr Ablakwa’s statement the Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey admitted that some foreign missions indeed owe their landlords but steps are being taken to address the challenge.
She said the country is aiming to acquire properties in states like Geneva (which has some UN institutions ) and Addis Ababa (where AU has its headquarters).
“Unlike most ministries, out of our goods and services, we pay rent and utilities…We all know how these releases delay. As a result when these delays occur in our releases then we have problems. If you are in the cold and you're thrown out or your utility is cut off this can be very, very terrible,” she stated.
Mrs Botchwey said her ministry has secured a loan that is being disbursed towards purchases, renovations and construction of facilities in some countries to help ease the problem.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
They’ve threatened to impeach me; I’m happy to have you back – Mahama tells Prof Opoku-Agyemang
8 minutes -
Vincent Assafuah explains GLC disciplinary procedure in petition against former AG, Godfred Dame
23 minutes -
‘Principalities who wished you the worst will be disappointed’- Mahama welcomes Vice President after full recovery
26 minutes -
WTISD 2025: Aya Institute urges gender-sensitive policies to bridge the digital divide
34 minutes -
One arrested as missing UEW lecturer is found buried in his home
40 minutes -
Aflao MoMo vendor’s killing: 65-year-old father of key suspect arrested; 8 now in custody
50 minutes -
Mr. Daniel Kwame Wiafe
57 minutes -
KNUST Architecture students spearhead major peri-urban survey in Yilo Krobo
59 minutes -
UEW Co-operative Credit Union marks 23rd AGM, promotes financial literacy and entrepreneurship among students
1 hour -
MP Vincent Assafuah petitions ILO over ‘politically-motivated dismissal of public-sector workers
1 hour -
CJ C’ttee petition: Mahama has “serious problems to tackle”, not “a 20-second restaurant encounter” – Ansa-Asare
1 hour -
Trump administration revokes Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students
2 hours -
Nurture Nature Foundation calls for urgent action to address flood crisis in Accra
2 hours -
ECG rallies Suame Magazine traders to tackle transformer theft and power vandalism in A/R
2 hours -
Why do we only see the bad? A call for balanced political accountability
2 hours