By Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, April 4, GNA – Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preserving the country’s diplomatic properties.
Speaking during a meeting with the Ghanaian community in Benin, Mr Ablakwa emphasised that “Ghanaian missions and its property are for the state, bought with taxpayer funds, and none must sell or own it”.
This assurance comes on the heels of attempts to sell some properties belonging to Ghanaian missions abroad, a statement issued by Mr Ablakwa and copied to the Ghana News Agency, Accra, has said.
It said Mr Ablakwa warned that no diplomatic property, whether in Ghana or across Ghana’s 71 diplomatic missions abroad, would be available for sale under the current administration.
The Minister also highlighted the government’s efforts to alleviate the burden on ordinary Ghanaians by scrapping ‘nuisance taxes.’
“President Mahama has assented to the bill to remove betting tax, emission levy, and the electronic transfer levy, and assured that in the next budget, the COVID recovery levy will go away,” the statement noted.
It said to strengthen ties with other countries and support Ghanaian businesses abroad, the Foreign Affairs Minister tasked the mission to position itself strategically.
“Additionally, the Ministry plans to establish operational offices to facilitate easy access to passport acquisition and other legal documents for Ghanaians living abroad,” it added.
According to the statement, the minister’s commitment to preserving Ghana’s diplomatic properties is in line with the government’s stance on protecting the national interest.
“As the Minister leading the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee, Mr Ablakwa has been instrumental in halting the sale of diplomatic properties in Nigeria and Zambia, which was initiated by the previous administration,” the statement noted.
GNA