The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has firmly assured Ghanaians that no diplomatic property owned by the state will be sold to individuals or private entities under the current administration.

Speaking during a meeting with the Ghanaian community in Benin, Mr Ablakwa emphasised that all properties belonging to Ghana’s missions abroad were acquired using taxpayers’ money and must remain public assets.

“It won’t happen under President Mahama’s administration,” he declared while addressing staff at the Ghana Mission in Benin.

The Foreign Minister’s comments come amid concerns over the deteriorating state of some diplomatic properties.

Several of the buildings, acquired in 1999, have been left to decay since 2019 following a fire incident that damaged their electrical meters.

Although Ghana owns six properties in Benin, one remains abandoned, and others are in poor condition, forcing mission staff to rent alternative accommodation at high costs due to defects in the official residences.

To address these challenges, Mr Ablakwa announced that the Ministry will undertake comprehensive renovation and, where necessary, reconstruction of the affected properties.

He stressed the importance of proper asset management, reminding mission staff of their responsibility to safeguard the state’s investments.

“Ghanaians are counting on you to protect and maintain these properties,” he said, underlining the NDC government’s resolve to restore Ghana’s diplomatic infrastructure.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, the Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to easing the financial burden on ordinary Ghanaians.

He reiterated that President Mahama has already assented to bills scrapping the betting tax, emissions levy, and electronic transfer levy, with the COVID-19 recovery levy set to be abolished in the next budget.

These moves, he said, are part of a broader strategy to reduce nuisance taxes and support the economic well-being of citizens.

Mr Ablakwa also outlined plans to bolster Ghana’s international engagement by positioning missions to better support Ghanaian businesses abroad.

He further disclosed the Ministry’s intention to establish operational offices to provide services such as passport issuance, reducing the need for Ghanaians abroad to travel home for basic documentation.

The Minister concluded by reaffirming the NDC government’s commitment to building a prosperous Ghana for all.