By Hannah Dadzie
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has commissioned six brand-new 2025 model Toyota Coaster buses for staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a move aimed at improving productivity and easing daily commuting challenges.
The presentation fulfils a promise made by the minister on his first day in office in February 2025, following concerns raised, particularly by junior staff, about the high cost, stress and uncertainty associated with public transportation in Accra.
“On my first day in office, it was clear that many of our staff were struggling with transportation. I promised that within my first year, I would deliver buses to ease that burden, and I am glad that today we have fulfilled that promise,” Mr Ablakwa said.
He acknowledged the broader national conversation around Accra’s transport difficulties, noting that workers often endure long hours in traffic and overcrowded vehicles, especially during rush hours.
“The ordeal workers go through in the morning and after work is something we all know too well. These buses are meant to lift that burden and reduce the stress our colleagues face every day just trying to get to work,” he added.
The six buses are 29-seater, fully air-conditioned vehicles procured through a competitive tender process. According to the minister, the specifications were deliberately chosen to suit the professional demands of foreign service officers.
“The nature of our work requires that we are often well dressed, sometimes in three-piece suits. It would be extremely difficult to commute in arrangements that are not well considered or properly air-conditioned,” he said.
While the atmosphere was celebratory, the minister coupled the gesture with a firm call for discipline, stressing that the provision of reliable transport effectively removes the main excuse for lateness.
“In the past, I may have been a bit liberal because of your complaints about the public transport system. Now, you have no excuse. We expect that by 8:00 am, you should all be settled in your offices and working,” Mr Ablakwa said.
He added that because the buses are scheduled to depart only after 5:00 pm, the ministry expects a full day’s work from every officer, ensuring improved productivity.
Beyond staff welfare, Mr Ablakwa said the buses will also support the ministry’s operational needs, particularly during the upcoming Diaspora Summit and other end-of-year engagements.
“The timing is excellent. With heavy traffic due to the festive season and our continued work through the holidays, these buses will also support our protocol and logistical arrangements for guests arriving from the Diaspora,” he noted.
The minister cautioned drivers assigned to the buses to adhere strictly to road traffic regulations, reminding them that they carry the image of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also encouraged the public to report any reckless driving via the ministry’s hotlines, warning that any errant driver would face sanctions.
Mr Ablakwa further appealed to the Estates Directorate to ensure a strong maintenance regime to preserve the buses for at least the next five years.
The acting Chief Director of the ministry, Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, described the initiative as a welfare intervention that places shared responsibility on staff.
“The minister has delivered on his promise. It is now for us as staff to also deliver in terms of performance,” she said.
The Director of the Estates and General Services Bureau, Ms Ninette Ivo, also praised the minister’s responsiveness, describing the buses as an investment in staff welfare and institutional efficiency.
“By easing our daily commutes, we will arrive earlier, more energised and better prepared to serve our nation,” she said.
Ms Ivo recalled that during the minister’s first staff durbar on February 10, 2025, he listened attentively to the transportation challenges faced by staff and service personnel living far from the ministry.
“In a remarkably brief period, you have transformed these concerns into a generous reality before us, which is a clear demonstration of responsive and decisive leadership,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the momentum would continue, with hopes that by this time next year the ministry would be celebrating another major milestone, including the possible commissioning of a proposed multi-storey car park to better serve officers and visiting dignitaries.
The commissioning comes at a time when many workers in Accra continue to grapple with rising transport costs, long waiting times and congested roads, making staff welfare interventions increasingly critical to public sector productivity.
