Ministry does not have money – Ayorkor Botchwey

Magdalene Teiko Larnyoh 14:09 - 23 March 2017

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs made this comment following the Finance Minister’s move to cut the ministry’s Internally Generated Fund (IGF). She however, warned that the move will have a negative effect on the finances of the Ministry.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has revealed that her ministry is cash-strapped.

Her comments follow the Finance Minister’s move to cut the ministry’s Internally Generated Fund (IGF).

However Botchwey has warned that the move will have a negative effect on the finances of the Ministry.

“This Ministry is the most cash-strapped Ministry. There is no money…we don’t even have money to recruit staff, to run goods and services, assets….we are not given that much and so we rely on the 35% that we return of the 100% retention to run the missions.”

The Ministry has projected to collect GHc 149,831,338.93 as IGF from its missions’ operations abroad in 2017.

However, the Finance Ministry plans on slashing the amount, allowing the foreign Ministry to retain only 51,570,645. This move will contravene the previous convention of 100% IGF retention by the Ministry.

Speaking to Accra-based Starr FM, Mrs Botchway said this move will cripple the ministry. She added that she and the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament have engaged Mr Ofori Atta to rescind his directive.

“We might not be able to do anything and would be a sad situation for us. We have made contact with them [finance Ministry] and they understand our plight.”