MP's Demand Allocation of More Funds To Address Challenges of Ghana's Missions Abroad

Members of Parliament have called on government to ensure allocation of more resources to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enable it provide good premises for Ghana's missions ( embassies ) abroad, many of which are reported to be in deplorable state.

The MPs made the appeal in Parliament whilst commenting on a motion for the adoption of the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the State of Ghana's Missions Abroad. The report which was presented to Parliament by Hon Frank Annor - Dompreh Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, is on the findings of the committee which embarked on a visit to some of the country's missions in Europe, Asia, America and Africa.

Hon Annoh- Dompreh said a number of restrictions and procurement challenges in countries where some of the missions are based have caused undue delay on renovation works on those buildings for which a loan of US$ 50 Million was contracted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2016.

Touching on the recommendations and findings of the committee , Hon Frank Annoh- Dompreh said most of the Missions properties and facilities were in deplorable state and need urgent replacement and repairs .

To ensure effective oversight of the Missions activities , the committee emphasised the need for it to be encouraged to undertake future oversight visit to the Missions which were not visited, whilst a comprehensive report on the state of the country's missions should be submitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs every year for the attention of Parliament.

The committee according to Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh noted that busy Missions such as Paris do not have the capacity to issue Passports and Visas on their own hence the need for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take steps to establish a fully -fledged Passport and Visa issuance processing centers with capacity to print and issue passports and visas in Missions with high numbers of applications .

Seconding the motion for the adoption of the Committee's report, Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa the Minority Ranking Member on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and MP for North Tongu called for urgent steps by government to address challenges faced by the country's missions abroad.