President John Dramani Mahama has announced decisive measures to halt Ghana’s annual expenditure of more than $15 million on renting properties abroad for diplomatic missions.

He said the country’s reset agenda demands an urgent reversal of this practice, which he described as a drain on taxpayer resources.

Speaking at the commissioning of new Ambassadors and High Commissioners on Thursday, September 4, President Mahama announced that the Cabinet has approved a new initiative – known as the STRIDE Initiative – to shift from renting to developing state-owned diplomatic properties.

“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 declared.

The STRIDE Initiative, which stands for Strategic Transition from Rental to Developing our own Properties, will be led by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance.

The President disclosed that a transaction advisor has already been appointed, standard architectural designs are being prepared, and funding arrangements are under negotiation.

According to him, “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."