News Guide Africa

Tag: Minister for Foreign Affairs

  • Foreign minister denies awarding $5.2m embassy renovation contract in Benin

    Foreign minister denies awarding $5.2m embassy renovation contract in Benin

    The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has refuted claims suggesting that he awarded a US$5.2 million renovation contract for Ghana’s embassy in Benin.

    In a statement released on his official Facebook page, Mr. Ablakwa urged the public to treat such allegations with “utter contempt,” stressing that no such contract had been awarded under his tenure.

    “For the record, I have not awarded any embassy renovation contract anywhere in the world. Let me be clear not a single embassy renovation or construction contract has been awarded by me since I became Foreign Minister,” he stated.

    Mr. Ablakwa explained that, contrary to the claims, he has instead taken measures to protect public funds by cancelling questionable contracts he inherited.

    “On the contrary, I have rather protected taxpayers by cancelling a $3.5 million single-source midnight contract to renovate our embassy in Abidjan, which was awarded on November 7, 2024,” he revealed.

    The Foreign Minister assured Ghanaians that he remains committed to safeguarding public resources while working with integrity to deliver on President John Dramani Mahama’s “Reset Agenda.”

    “I shall never betray the trust of the Ghanaian people as we work tirelessly, and with integrity, to achieve President Mahama’s Reset Agenda,” he affirmed.

  • E-visa services: Mahama directs sector Ministers to fast track process 

    President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministers for Interior, Transport, and Foreign Affairs to collaborate and fast-track the rollout of e-visa services in Ghana.

     

    The ministers have been tasked to leverage the newly commissioned Air Navigation Services (ANS) and the Multi-Agency Command Centre for the Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems to see to their implementation.

     

    Speaking at the commissioning of the facilities on Monday, August 4, President Mahama noted that the API and PNR systems will deal with passenger and travel document data.

     

    “I’m directing the Hon. Ministers for Interior, Transport, and Foreign Affairs to collaborate to ensure that this platform is expanded to enable us to implement this long-awaited e-services for the country. I’m charging them to extend this system to cover both the sea and land border posts, integrate with our e-gate systems, and the adoption of capabilities to extend, to perform the advancement of the cargo information system and also for the benefit of our customs.

     

     

    “These policy directives will ensure the country enjoys the full benefits of what we’re witnessing today. The e-visa system will ease visa application processes, reduce paperwork, bureaucracy, support tourism, and make Ghana an even more attractive travel destination for business. The future of travel is digital, and Ghana must not be left behind,” he said.