John Dramani Mahama Bans Taxpayer-Funded Foreign Travel for Boards of State Institutions

President John Dramani Mahama has placed an immediate halt on foreign trips by boards of state-owned enterprises and public institutions when such travel is financed with public funds.

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The directive, issued from Jubilee House on March 5 and signed by Secretary to the President Callistus Mahama, is aimed at cutting rising government expenditure associated with overseas training programmes, conferences, retreats and study tours.

According to the presidency, the decision follows growing concern about the increasing frequency and cost of international trips undertaken by board members of state institutions. Officials say expenses related to airfare, accommodation, per diem allowances and other logistics have been mounting, placing additional pressure on the national budget.

Under the new directive, boards of all state-owned enterprises and public institutions are prohibited from undertaking any foreign travel for capacity-building activities if the trips are funded either directly or indirectly with taxpayer resources.

However, the government has allowed for limited exceptions. In cases where international travel is considered unavoidable, institutions must seek approval from the President through the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President. Such requests must be submitted through the relevant sector minister and must include detailed justification, outlining the purpose of the trip, expected outcomes, number of participants and the estimated cost.

Institutions must also demonstrate why the objectives cannot be achieved through local training programmes or virtual engagements.

The presidency has encouraged ministries and their agencies to prioritise cost-effective alternatives, including in-country training sessions, partnerships with local universities and professional bodies, and the use of virtual platforms for international collaboration.

Ministers have also been directed to ensure that boards concentrate on their core governance and oversight roles while carefully evaluating the necessity and value of any training activities.

The measure forms part of a broader effort by the government to tighten spending controls, curb non-essential expenditure and channel limited national resources into priority development projects and social programmes intended to benefit citizens.

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