Travel ban necessary for monitoring – Oppong Nkrumah

The ban on foreign travels by Ministers and their deputies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) is necessary for monitoring and evaluation, Deputy Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has said.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has, in a memo dated 21st June 2018, placed temporary ban on all foreign travels by Ministers and their deputies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) as well as all Heads of Government Agencies.

The statement signed by Chief of Staff, Frema Osei-Opare exempted the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration from the ban.

The Deputy Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, in an interview with Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka AM Drive Monday, mentioned that upon the completion of a review of the guidelines, the office of the chief of Staff will be able to monitor the foreign travels of all Ministers as well as all government appointees.

“This is a temporary ban to afford the office of the Chief of the Chief of Staff an opportunity to review the guidelines pertaining to foreign travels by Ministers and the moment that is completed, the ban will be lifted,” he said.

According to him, ministers and government appointees who have urgent work related to appointments as well as private work outside Ghana are at liberty to apply for leave at the office of the Chief of Staff through the required process.