Government spends US$15 million on foreign service officers' rent – Ablakwa laments

Read Comments Comments (13)

• Kk 8 months ago

  Well you claimed you have been renting a private property at high rates for the pst 8 years. This is testament that you lied about that property. Because you’ve always spoken about value for money; i knew you were not bein ...
  read full comment

  Well you claimed you have been renting a private property at high rates for the pst 8 years. This is testament that you lied about that property. Because you’ve always spoken about value for money; i knew you were not being upfront with that private property. You can’t be a crusader for value for money and avoidance of wastage of funds while you don’t practice same in your private life.
  
  All the best with the plan to purchase permanent properties for the service

  reply
• Bitter truth 8 months ago

  Thank u bro..these ewe-Togolese Ablakwa thinks he is intelligent than every Ghanaian..He thinks he can play mind games with Ghanaians..Niall of a sudden he has seen that renting cost the country’s money yet he claims to hav ...
  read full comment

  Thank u bro..these ewe-Togolese Ablakwa thinks he is intelligent than every Ghanaian..He thinks he can play mind games with Ghanaians..Niall of a sudden he has seen that renting cost the country’s money yet he claims to have rented at airport residential area in dollars..ask him if not cheap politics, can these Togolese rent a place in airport residential?

  reply
• Nii Ayi 8 months ago

  Excellent idea for Missions in countries knowing very well Ghana would have a very long-time relationship with, for example, U.K. U.S.A. India, China and almost all African nations; based on a lot of things including sincerit ...
  read full comment

  Excellent idea for Missions in countries knowing very well Ghana would have a very long-time relationship with, for example, U.K. U.S.A. India, China and almost all African nations; based on a lot of things including sincerity, friendship, trade, finance, security and reciprocity.
  
  Recycling staff every 2 years is not the key...in some countries it does take ages before folks get settled so just keep the 4 known since Vienna.
  
  As a country we can take steps to reduce cost at our foreign missions..
  
  1. Further consolidate our missions abroad to reduce overhead costs.
  
  2. Optimising Staffing....no excessive personnel.
  
  3. Implement Shared services...Share administrative services, such as HR, Finance, and IT, among multiple missions.
  
  Further cost-saving measures could include
  
  1. Renegotiate leases for mission premises to ensure favourable terms
  
  2. implement energy-efficient practices through energy-efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems.
  
  3. Use technology by leveraging on digital communication tools and platforms to reduce travel and meeting costs.
  
  4. Centralise procurement
  
  5. Implement sustainable procurement practices
  
  6. Optimise logistics
  
  7. Virtual diplomacy for diplomatic engagements reducing the need for in-person meetings.
  
  8. Collaborate with other countries...to achieve common goals.
  
  9. Constantly review and evaluate any actions taken.
  
  These, in my humble opinion, among the purchase of properties, will help in reducing the overall expenditure on our missions abroad.

  reply
• Kweku Boateng Jnr 8 months ago

  1. Reduce corruption through the educational grant. DNA before payment. Many staff keep their wives and children at home and yet claim airline cost for traveling and return. To reduce corruption let staff members produce let ...
  read full comment

  1. Reduce corruption through the educational grant. DNA before payment. Many staff keep their wives and children at home and yet claim airline cost for traveling and return. To reduce corruption let staff members produce letters from host authorities to back claims for tickets/payments.
  
  2. Reduce the payment of telephone allowances to 200.00 USD for HOMs and 100 USD for all staff. All staff used Whatsup which is free. Immediately the Ghanaian state will save several hundreds/thousands of USD every month.
  3. Hon Minister remember the kalabule involving the purchase of a building in Norway (Scandinavian country) a few years ago. Add RD staff in any negotiations to purchase properties. RD staff are more professionally than main office. You must cover your back.
  4. Reduce staff at all Missions.
  5. Advertise all recruitment in the newspapers etc Just check the surnames of staff. It’s a family/clan/ tribal organization.
  6. Democratize the recruitment process. All regions and the diaspora to have minimum numbers and the rest via population.
  7. All staff must declare their assets publicly before and after posting.
  8. Check the procurement of tickets, generators, computers and furniture. Standardizing furniture, computers, printers etc will reduce corruption.
  9. Plant trees around the Ministry and safeguard the Ministry from that huge building under construction.
  10. Economic diplomacy is badly needed. No one reads and takes actions on reports sent by Missions to Accra. Just have a meeting with former CDs, Ambassadors and HOCs! There is no organic link between the Government, Manifestos and Missions. Good luck Hon Minister.

  reply
• KK 8 months ago

  That's all you got to say? I mean come on!

  That's all you got to say? I mean come on!

  reply
• Badiako the future president 8 months ago

  there is govt house in Dortmund as a consulate,its no more a consulate but some germans live in this building.its for rent or Government property

  there is govt house in Dortmund as a consulate,its no more a consulate but some germans live in this building.its for rent or Government property

  reply
• Hagoa Lovely 8 months ago

  Property rates and maintenance is also costly outside too. Think of that too.

  Property rates and maintenance is also costly outside too. Think of that too.

  reply
• Hannan 8 months ago

  ;)) Welcome to the best sex dating site ~> Sexy24.mom

  ;)) Welcome to the best sex dating site ~> Sexy24.mom

  reply
• One breath maintenance of these properties a problem 8 months ago

  In one breath government spent. $15m annually for rent at the same time properties purchased by government deteriorating so which is the strategic plan here ?

  In one breath government spent. $15m annually for rent at the same time properties purchased by government deteriorating so which is the strategic plan here ?

  reply
• Kaba 8 months ago

  Why do we have plenty foreign missions. Are they all yielding something good for us. Please close some and merge some.

  Why do we have plenty foreign missions. Are they all yielding something good for us. Please close some and merge some.

  reply
• Ashley 8 months ago

  NDC talks like this is the first time they are coming to power. All these missions have been there during Rawlings, Atta Mills and Mahama 1.0.

  NDC talks like this is the first time they are coming to power. All these missions have been there during Rawlings, Atta Mills and Mahama 1.0.

  reply
• Bitter truth 8 months ago

  Thank you..these Ndc making it seem like this is their first time in history..very soon, I say very soon, Ghanaians will be wiser..they will see in between their lies..ndc has ruled Ghana than any political party in the histo ...
  read full comment

  Thank you..these Ndc making it seem like this is their first time in history..very soon, I say very soon, Ghanaians will be wiser..they will see in between their lies..ndc has ruled Ghana than any political party in the history of Ghana, they are not any better party..

  reply
• Kwaku. 8 months ago

  You guys are doing fantastic work. But you must find ways to patrol the international borders without the expensive and useless colonial borders. The land borders must go now. They do not make sense. They just represent a mon ...
  read full comment

  You guys are doing fantastic work. But you must find ways to patrol the international borders without the expensive and useless colonial borders. The land borders must go now. They do not make sense. They just represent a monument in corruption.

  reply