Mahama Bans International Travel by Boards of State-Owned Enterprises to Cut Public Spending

John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, has directed that Boards of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and other public institutions immediately stop undertaking international travel for training programmes, conferences, retreats, and study tours funded by the state.

The directive follows concerns about the growing cost of overseas trips by boards of public institutions, which government says have placed unnecessary pressure on the national budget.

Government Raises Concerns Over Rising Travel Costs

According to the presidency, the government recognises the importance of professional development, exposure to international best practices, and strengthening corporate governance within public institutions.

However, authorities say the frequency and scale of international trips involving several board members and extended travel schedules have raised serious concerns about the prudent use of public resources.

Officials noted that such trips often lead to significant expenditure on airfares, accommodation, per diem allowances, and other logistical costs, at a time when the government is implementing strict fiscal discipline and expenditure control measures.

Immediate Suspension of Board-Sponsored International Trips

Under the new directive, boards of SOEs and public institutions are prohibited from undertaking international travel for training, conferences, retreats, or study tours using public funds.

Ministers supervising these institutions have been instructed to enforce the directive and ensure strict compliance across all agencies under their jurisdiction.

Presidential Approval Required for Exceptional Cases

The government clarified that international engagements may only be considered under exceptional circumstances.

In such cases, the board must submit a formal request through the relevant sector minister to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President for the express approval of President Mahama before any travel arrangements are made.

Any request must include detailed information such as:

• The purpose and expected outcomes of the trip
• The strategic relevance to the institution’s mandate
• The number of participants proposed
• The estimated total cost of the travel

Government Encourages Local Training and Virtual Engagements

To ensure continued capacity development while reducing costs, the government has encouraged ministries and public institutions to prioritise:

• Local training programmes within Ghana
• In-country retreats
• Partnerships with local universities and professional institutions
• Virtual training platforms and technical exchanges

Where specialised training is necessary, institutions are advised to engage experts within Ghana rather than organising international travel involving entire board delegations.

Part of Broader Fiscal Discipline Measures

The presidency says the directive forms part of broader government efforts to strengthen expenditure controls, reduce non-essential spending, and redirect resources toward priority national development programmes.

According to officials, savings from reduced international travel will help support infrastructure development and social intervention programmes that directly benefit Ghanaians.

Ministers have been asked to immediately communicate the directive to Boards, Chief Executive Officers, and management teams of all state-owned enterprises and public institutions to ensure full compliance.