President John Dramani Mahama has stated that the country’s expenditure on renting properties abroad for diplomatic use amounts to over $15 million annually.

According to him, such occurrences cannot continue under the government’s resetting agenda.

Addressing the first batch of envoys at a swearing-in ceremony at the Jubilee House on Thursday, September 4, 2025, the President argued that the amounts being expended are not a prudent use of public funds, asserting that the public purse must be managed wisely.

“Let me be emphatic, Ghana cannot continue spending a staggering more than $15 million every year on renting properties abroad for our diplomatic use. This is not a judicious use of taxpayers' resources, and the reset agenda requires an immediate reversal of this trend,” he said.

President Mahama indicated that, as part of the government’s efforts to address the challenge and eliminate wasteful spending, a STRIDE initiative has been introduced and approved by Cabinet.

This initiative, he said aims to strategically transition the country from renting to developing its own properties abroad.

“That is why Cabinet has promptly approved the STRIDE Initiative and it refers to the strategic transition from rental to developing our own properties. I've tasked the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Finance to work urgently to resolve this long-standing challenge,” he indicated.

The President intimated that plans are underway to ensure that Ghana’s envoys are housed in properties owned by the country rather than rented, in order to save costs.

“From my latest briefing, transaction advisor has been appointed, standard designs are being developed, and funding mechanisms are already being negotiated. This decisive shift will ensure that our missions abroad are housed in properties that are owned by the Republic, reducing wasteful expenditure while safeguarding Ghana's dignity on the international stage.”

MAG/MA

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