Foreign Affairs Ministry Gets New Buses to Ease Staff Commute

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has taken a significant step to improve staff welfare and productivity with the commissioning of six new buses to support the daily transportation needs of its workers. The buses, which were officially handed over by Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, are expected to ease the stress of commuting in Accra’s congested public transport system, particularly for junior staff.

The commissioning of the buses is part of broader efforts by the Foreign Affairs Ministry to improve working conditions and institutional effectiveness. Minister Ablakwa said the initiative was a direct response to concerns raised by staff during his first interaction with them on his assumption of office earlier this year.

“The staff, particularly the junior staff, were concerned about their mode of transport to work and from work,” Mr Ablakwa 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 vehicles, which are 2025-model Toyota Coaster buses, are fully air-conditioned 29-seaters acquired through a competitive procurement process in line with Ghana’s public procurement laws. The minister noted that the intervention came at a time when public discourse had increasingly focused on the inadequacies of Ghana’s urban transport system and the toll it took on workers, especially during peak hours.

“I am delighted that we in the Foreign Ministry have been able to lift that burden and ease the stress our colleagues were facing when commuting,” he said. The buses will also serve operational needs of the ministry, including protocol and logistical arrangements for official events and visiting delegations.

Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pledged that management would ensure the vehicles were put to good use and properly maintained. 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 challenges were raised barely ten months earlier, in February 2025.

The new buses are expected to enhance punctuality and productivity among staff, and strengthen camaraderie among staff and foster a stronger sense of community within the ministry.