After Outcry Over Presidents' Faces On Ghanaian Buses, Mahama Bans First Class Travel For Public Officials

Image credits: BBC

Past Ghanaian presidents’ faces (including Mahama, Atta Mills, Kuffour & Rawlings) on these buses have been causing controversy in Ghana's capital, Accra. It cost almost US$1m to get pictures of the country's presidents' bust shots plastered on 116 buses.

BBC Africa Live/GRAPHITTI NEWS report continues:

The figures of 3.6m Cedi (US$940,0000, £630,000) was made public by Ghana's minority leader of parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu. 

Media reports claim this didn't go down well with the public - some have even said they would have preferred adverts.

Others are complaining that the cost of the rebrand was far too high. 

Following the public outcry the president's chief of staff has directed the attorney general to review the contract for the rebrand.

Image credits: BBC

Meanwhile Reuters reports that Ghana's President John Mahama has banned public officials from first class air travel in a renewed effort to cut wasteful spending as the West African nation implements an IMF aid deal to revive state finances, the government said on Tuesday.

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.