By Issah Olegor
President John Dramani Mahama has directed all Boards of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and public institutions to immediately halt international travel funded by the state for training, retreats, conferences, and study tours, citing concerns over rising costs and the need for stricter fiscal discipline.
The directive, contained in a letter issued from the Office of the President at Jubilee House and signed by Secretary to the President Callistus Mahama, was addressed to all Ministers of State and forms part of broader government measures to reduce non-essential public spending and ensure prudent management of national resources.
According to the communication dated March 5, 2026, the Presidency noted with concern that several Boards of SOEs and other public institutions have increasingly undertaken international trips for training programmes, retreats, conferences and study tours.
While acknowledging the importance of continuous learning, exposure to global best practices and strengthening corporate governance, the government said the growing frequency of such trips — often involving multiple board members and extended itineraries — had raised serious concerns about the responsible use of public funds.
The Presidency observed that many of these travels have resulted in substantial expenditure on air tickets, hotel accommodation, per diem allowances and other logistical arrangements.
At a time when the government is implementing strict measures aimed at improving public financial management and enforcing fiscal discipline, officials believe such costs are placing unnecessary pressure on the national budget.
In response, President Mahama has ordered that the practice where boards of SOEs and public institutions embark on international travel funded directly or indirectly by public resources should cease with immediate effect.
The directive requires all sector ministers supervising these institutions to ensure strict compliance by the boards under their authority.
Under the new guidelines, boards are prohibited from undertaking foreign trips for training, conferences, retreats or study tours financed by the state.
However, in situations where an international engagement is considered absolutely necessary and cannot reasonably be conducted locally or through virtual platforms, the institution must submit a formal request through the relevant sector minister to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President for the explicit approval of the President before any travel arrangements are made.
The Presidency further stated that such requests must be accompanied by a detailed justification outlining the purpose and expected outcomes of the proposed travel, the strategic relevance of the engagement to the institution’s mandate, the number of participants involved, the estimated total cost, and clear reasons why the objectives cannot be achieved through local or virtual alternatives.
The government is also urging ministries and public institutions to prioritize local capacity-building initiatives such as in-country training programmes, domestic retreats and partnerships with Ghanaian universities, professional bodies and training institutes as cost-effective alternatives to overseas travel.
Where specialised training is required, the directive encourages institutions to explore virtual learning platforms, technical exchanges and short-term expert engagements within Ghana rather than organising international trips involving full board delegations.
The Presidency also reminded ministers to ensure that the activities of boards remain focused primarily on their statutory governance and oversight responsibilities, stressing that any training resources toward priority programmes, infrastructure development and social interventions that directly benefit citizens.
However, Ministers have been instructed to immediately communicate the directive to all boards, chief executive officers and management teams of SOEs and public institutions under their supervision to ensure full compliance.
