Ghana is preparing to hold presidential and
parliamentary elections next year and, with the opposition accusing government
ministers of inflating contract sums, inappropriate spending will likely be a
top campaign issue.
The presidency issued the directive this week asking
all ministers and other top officials to avoid "unwarranted" foreign
trips on the public purse, Communications Minister Edward Omane Boamah told
Reuters.
Ghana, a major producer of cocoa, gold and oil, began
a three-year program with the International Monetary Fund in April to fix its
economy, which has been dogged by high deficits, a widening public debt and
unstable local currency.
Finance Minister Seth Terkper told Reuters on Tuesday
the cabinet is also discussing a financial accountability bill which would
impose penalties such as dismissal or jail time for public officials who are
found to violate it.
"It is expected to be clear enough to enable the
general public to see malfeasance if there is (any) and hold the agency
involved accountable," he added.
Source: Reuters
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