The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commissioned six new buses to improve staff welfare and productivity, particularly easing transportation challenges faced by junior staff commuting daily within Accra.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the ministry to enhance working conditions and institutional effectiveness.
The buses arrive at a period of increased pressure on public transport in the capital during the festive season.
The buses were officially handed over by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who said the move was in direct response to concerns raised by staff during his first engagement with them after assuming office earlier this year.
Mr Ablakwa recalled that transportation challenges featured prominently during his initial interaction with workers at the ministry in Accra.
“Staff, particularly the junior staff, were concerned about their mode of transport to work and from work,” he said. “I promised that within my first year in office, I would ensure that we delivered buses to ease the stress that our hardworking and dynamic staff go through on a daily basis.”
The six buses are 2025-model Toyota Coaster vehicles, each a fully air-conditioned 29-seater. They were acquired through a competitive procurement process in accordance with Ghana’s public procurement laws.
According to the minister, the ministry provided detailed specifications, including seating configuration, spaciousness, air-conditioning, brand, and model, to ensure comfort and value for money.
Mr Ablakwa noted that the intervention comes at a time when public attention has increasingly focused on the inadequacies of urban transport systems and the toll they take on workers, especially during peak hours.
He said the daily strain of commuting often leaves workers exhausted and less prepared for the next day’s tasks, adding that the provision of official transport would help lift that burden.
“I am delighted that we in the Foreign Ministry have been able to ease the stress our colleagues were facing when commuting,” he said.
The minister added that reliable and comfortable transportation is particularly important for foreign service officers, whose duties often demand formal dressing, long working hours and high levels of professionalism.
Beyond staff welfare, Mr Ablakwa said the buses would also support the ministry’s operational needs, including protocol and logistics for official events and visiting delegations. He noted that the timing of the delivery was significant, given increased end-of-year activities, international meetings and the arrival of guests from the diaspora for the ministry’s Diaspora Summit.
He urged drivers assigned to the buses to observe all road safety regulations and uphold the image of the ministry.
“You are carrying the image of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a very esteemed image, and we expect you to drive carefully and professionally,” he said, adding that the public would be encouraged to report any misconduct.
Mr Ablakwa also tasked the Estate and General Services Bureau to implement a strong maintenance regime to ensure the longevity of the vehicles, noting that with proper care, the buses should remain in good condition for many years.
He expressed optimism that the availability of official transport would improve punctuality and enhance productivity among staff.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, pledged that management would ensure the buses are properly utilised and well-maintained. She assured staff that a strict maintenance schedule would be enforced to protect the investment and guarantee long-term serviceability.
Madam Ninette Ivo, a Director at the Estate and General Services Bureau, described the commissioning as a remarkable end to the year, noting that the transportation concerns were raised barely ten months earlier, in February 2025.
She commended the minister’s swift response, saying the delivery of the buses demonstrated decisive and people-centred leadership.
“These buses are an investment in staff welfare, punctuality and productivity,” she said, adding that easing the daily commute would allow staff to arrive earlier, feel more energised and be better prepared to serve the nation.
Ms Ivo also noted that the shared commute would help strengthen camaraderie among staff and foster a stronger sense of community within the ministry. She urged both drivers and passengers to act as custodians of the buses by ensuring careful use, cleanliness and strict adherence to maintenance schedules.
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