Foreign Affairs Ministry Faces $15m Yearly Rent Bill Abroad, Vows to Cut Costs – Minister

Foreign Affairs Ministry Faces $15m Yearly Rent Bill Abroad, Vows to Cut Costs – Minister—-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that the ministry spends around $15 million each year on rent for Foreign Service Officers stationed overseas, a figure he described as a significant burden on the ministry’s budget.

Speaking during a staff engagement at the Ghana High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, the minister highlighted the urgent need for cost-saving measures and announced a new policy to gradually reduce rental expenses by purchasing at least two properties annually for diplomatic use.

He said: “this is a long-term investment in the welfare of our officers and the sustainability of our operations abroad,” he said.

However, Mr. Ablakwa also raised concerns about the poor maintenance of government-owned properties in some missions, noting that several have deteriorated to unsafe conditions.

“We need to move away from a culture of neglect. Properties we own must be properly maintained to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our officers,” he stressed.

To further enhance staff welfare, the minister announced that officers deployed to difficult or high-risk postings would now be rotated every two years to reduce hardship and improve morale.

His visit to Abuja forms part of a broader official tour of Ghanaian missions in Benin, Nigeria, and Togo, aimed at strengthening engagement with diplomatic staff and the diaspora.

Mr. Ablakwa said the direct interactions would help him better understand the challenges faced by Foreign Service Officers and craft targeted solutions.

“We must make the welfare of our officers a priority if we want an effective and motivated Foreign Service,” he added.