President John Evans Atta Mills does not intend to receive per diem on his travels, it has emerged on Friday. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Information Minister, told Joy FM that the president hopes, by his example, to convince his ministers that the times are hard and that they need to abide by his admonition for modesty in public spending. Mills, by virtue of his position as President, is well catered for on his travels abroad by his hosts and does not see the need to take per diem he believes he does not need, Okudzeto explained. President Mills similarly declined his allowances while he served as Vice President during the Rawlings-led National Democratic Congress administration. Those were the days when he chaired the Police and Army Councils and directed that his allowances, plus those from all other committees he chaired, were to be donated to the Osu Children’s Home. Okudzeto said the president believes he should be able to finance little comforts from his own pocket and will not ask Ghanaians to pay for such expenses. Story by Isaac Yeboah/Myjoyonline.com