The Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has vowed to push for the formulation of a comprehensive presidential travel policy to regulate official trips by Ghana’s Head of State.
According to him, the presidential travel policy could set a new precedent for transparency and accountability in presidential travel.
Speaking during his vetting before the Appointments Committee, Ablakwa, a long-time critic of what he described as excessive presidential travel expenses, by the former president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, stressed the need for clear guidelines on the use of state resources for official and private trips.
Ablakwa emphasised that the absence of a structured policy has led to inefficiencies and controversies over presidential travel, making it necessary for Ghana to establish clear regulations.
“This is a matter that I am very passionate about, and I, if given the opportunity at the cabinet, will propose that Ghana formulate a presidential travel policy. If you take the US, when the President uses the presidential jet (Air Force One) for private trips, he is made to reimburse the state.
“They also have clear guidelines on who can use those jets and how they should be maintained. We don’t have that,” he explained.
“It is important to pursue that policy. I can assure you that I remain committed to it, and I think that it is time for the government to have a presidential travel policy.”