President John Dramani Mahama has directed that boards of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and other public institutions should immediately stop undertaking international travel for training, conferences, retreats, and study tours at the expense of the State.

A directive issued from the Office of the President in Accra on Thursday and signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, said the decision follows concerns about the rising frequency and cost of such trips, which often involve multiple board members and extended itineraries.

According to the statement, the expenses associated with airfares, accommodation, per diems, and other logistics have placed avoidable pressure on the public purse at a time the government was pursuing fiscal discipline and prudent public financial management.

While acknowledging the importance of continuous learning and exposure to international best practices, the Presidency noted that the growing trend of overseas travel by boards had raised serious concerns regarding the responsible use of public resources.

Under the new directive, all sector ministers have been instructed to ensure that boards of SOEs and public institutions do not undertake international travel funded directly or indirectly with public funds.

However, where an international engagement is considered absolutely necessary and cannot reasonably be undertaken locally or virtually, a formal request must be submitted through the supervising minister to the Chief of Staff at the Presidency for the express approval of the President before any arrangements are made.

“Cannot reasonably be undertaken locally or through virtual means, a formal request must be submitted through the sector Minister to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President for the express approval of His Excellency the President before any commitments or arrangements are made,” the directive said.

Such requests must include detailed justification, outlining the purpose and expected outcomes of the trip, its strategic relevance to the institution, the number of participants involved, the estimated cost, and reasons the objectives cannot be achieved through local or virtual alternatives.

The government has also urged ministries and their affiliated institutions to prioritise local training programmes, in-country retreats, and partnerships with reputable local universities and professional bodies as more cost-effective options for capacity development.

The directive forms part of broader government efforts to strengthen expenditure controls, reduce non-essential public spending, and redirect limited national resources to priority programmes, infrastructure development, and social interventions that directly benefit Ghanaians.

Ministers have been asked to bring the directive to the immediate attention of boards, chief executive officers, and management teams of state-owned enterprises and public institutions under their supervision and ensure strict compliance.