The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has unveiled two sweeping policy initiatives aimed at reshaping Ghana’s diplomatic operations, eliminating waste, and strengthening accountability.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the reforms during the ministry’s performance report at the Government Accountability Series in Accra.
STRIDE: Ending Rent Dependence Abroad
The first initiative, STRIDE (Strategic Transition from Renting to Infrastructure Development), targets Ghana’s costly reliance on renting office spaces for its diplomatic missions overseas. With the country currently spending an estimated US$15 million annually on rent, Minister Ablakwa described the practice as unsustainable, especially since Ghana owns donated lands in 23 countries.
“Ghana cannot continue to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on rent while owning donated lands in 23 countries,” Ablakwa said. Under STRIDE, the government will embark on constructing permanent chancery and residential facilities for embassies and high commissions. An open architectural design competition for the new “Ghana House” has been launched, with the aim of ensuring future diplomatic buildings embody Ghanaian culture, meet green standards, and become iconic representations of national identity.
ORAL: Recovering Looted State Assets
The second flagship initiative is the reinforcement of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), a key component of President John Mahama’s Reset Agenda. Ablakwa reported that the ministry, under ORAL, has already reclaimed lands at Airport Residential Area previously sold off, halted the illegal sale of diplomatic property in Lagos, Nigeria, cancelled a $3.5 million improperly awarded contract for the Abidjan Embassy, and created a comprehensive asset register to monitor all properties.
Ablakwa emphasized that no contract under his leadership has been awarded through sole-sourcing, underscoring a commitment to competitive procurement processes. “Accountability and value for money are non-negotiable. Every cedi must serve the Ghanaian people,” he asserted.
Resetting Ghana’s Diplomacy
Together, STRIDE and ORAL represent what the Minister described as a “reset in Ghana’s diplomacy”—a bold shift toward fiscal prudence, anti-corruption measures, and projecting Ghana’s image with dignity on the global stage.
“These policies will not only save Ghana millions but also restore confidence in the integrity of our foreign policy operations,” Ablakwa concluded.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
