Foreign Affairs minister unhappy about budget cut to her ministry

Ghana’s missions Abroad are likely to suffer the brunt of government’s decision to allow them retain a paltry 35% of their internally Generated Funds.

According to a report of the Foreign Affairs Committee of parliament on the estimates for the ministry of foreign Affairs, the 2017 budget statement will allow the ministry to retain only 51.5 million Ghana Cedis of the projected93.9 million Ghana Cedis for 2017.

That is in a sharp contrast to the 100% that was hitherto given to the ministry over the years. Members of the committee noted “The ministry has been short changed”.

Ranking member of the foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa said the reduction will negatively impact the smooth operations of Ghana’s missions abroad.

According to him, since there is no budget arrangement for these distress missions the finance minister must reconsider the decision.

“We feel strongly about this and we will not get to the end of the year before hearing complaints from our Foreign Service staff who will be finding themselves in a tight corner”.

Minister for foreign affairs and regional integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey is also expressing disappointment over the reduction.

She says the situation is sad because the ministry cannot execute it plans with the budget allocation“. She noted she together with the committee will take up the matter to the finance ministry.

“We have very high running cost and expenses yet we do not generate hence such decisions will in a long run affect our operations, we want the monies restored”.