Jubilee House cracks whip: Prez Mahama halts all international travel for state board members
President John Dramani Mahama has imposed an immediate ban on international travel by boards of state-owned enterprises and public institutions for training, conferences, retreats and study tours funded at taxpayer expense, citing mounting alarm over the escalating cost of such trips.
The directive, issued from the Jubilee House on March 5 and signed by Secretary to the President Callistus Mahama, follows what the presidency described as a troubling pattern of overseas travel by board members that had placed significant strain on the public purse.
The instruction applies to all state-owned enterprises and public institutions, bringing an abrupt halt to a practice the government said had grown both in frequency and expense.
“It has come to the attention of the President that some Boards of State-Owned Enterprises and other public institutions have increasingly undertaken international travel for training programmes, retreats, conferences, and study tours,” the directive stated.
While acknowledging the importance of exposure to international best practice and continuous professional development, the government expressed serious reservations about the cumulative cost of such travel, which often involved multiple board members and extended itineraries. The presidency noted that expenditure on airfares, accommodation, per diems and associated logistics had become a source of concern at a time when firm measures were being implemented to ensure fiscal discipline.
The ban is comprehensive and takes effect immediately. Boards are prohibited from undertaking any international travel for training, retreats, conferences or study tours funded directly or indirectly from public resources.
However, the directive makes provision for exceptional circumstances where an international engagement is deemed absolutely necessary and cannot reasonably be conducted locally or through virtual means.
In such cases, a formal request must be submitted through the sector minister to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, seeking the express approval of the President before any commitments are made.
Any request for exceptional approval must be accompanied by detailed justification, including the purpose and expected outcomes of the travel, its strategic relevance to the institution’s mandate, the number of participants proposed, the estimated total cost, and a clear explanation of why the objectives cannot be achieved through local or virtual arrangements.
The directive also strongly encourages ministries and their affiliated institutions to prioritise local training programmes, in-country retreats, and partnerships with reputable local institutions, universities and professional bodies as cost-effective alternatives for capacity development.
Where specialised expertise is required, institutions have been advised to explore virtual platforms, technical exchanges, and short-term expert engagements within Ghana rather than resorting to international travel involving full board delegations.
Ministers have been instructed to ensure that boards focus their activities primarily on their statutory oversight and governance responsibilities, and that any training or capacity-building initiatives are carefully assessed for value, necessity and cost-effectiveness.
The presidency described the directive as part of a broader government effort to strengthen expenditure controls, reduce non-essential public spending, and redirect scarce national resources toward priority programmes, infrastructure development and social interventions that directly benefit Ghanaians.
All ministers have been requested to bring the directive to the immediate attention of boards, chief executive officers and management teams of state-owned enterprises and public institutions under their supervision, and to ensure strict compliance.
The presidency said the cooperation of all ministries in enforcing the directive was highly appreciated.
The statement concluded with formal assurances conveyed on behalf of the President.
