Ban travels for medical check-ups, lectures – Ransford Gyampo

Following a temporary ban of international travels by government appointees, the Director of the Centre for European Studies at the University of Ghana, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, has recommended a permanent ban on foreign travels for medical check up and workshops by government officials.

“No one should be made to travel outside the country to attend lectures. No one should be made to travel outside the country to seek medical care outside. Medical care outside should be completely banned unless we know it is an extremely important case,” Mr, Gyampo suggested.

The President in a memo signed by the Chief of Staff directed all foreign travels by Ministers, their deputies, Metropolitan,Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and heads of government agencies be temporarily suspended. The memo also hinted of guidelines for future foreign travels.
Though further details was not given, the memo indicated that the move is to minimize disruption of government’s domestic work.

Mr. Gyampo in an interview with Citi News commended government for the move, saying “some of the travels are a complete waste of time and a drain on resources.”

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Abu Jinapor has already explained that the ban on trips is not as a result of excessive travelling by government appointees.

There had been suggestions that the ban was put in place because appointees were spending too much time abroad at the expense of the work.

Mr. Jinapor on Citi Breakfast Show however clarified that “on the contrary, the government and its functionaries are doing a yeoman’s job when it comes to domestic work.”

“It is not because ministers are travelling too much. That is never the case. You can do that comparative analysis over the years as to how travel has been and also on the usefulness of the travels.

“The President does not frown upon foreign travels per se… what the President wants to do is bring sanity and certainty to foreign travels,” he added.

Mr. Gyampo’s suggestion comes weeks after the Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia left the country to the United Kingdom for a medical leave.