Traveling With Business Class Is Not A Cost-cutting Measure – Nana Aba Anamoah

Television personality Nana Aba Anamoah has raised critical questions about the effectiveness of the recent directive prohibiting government officials from traveling first class on international trips. According to her, the policy, while well-intentioned, fails to address the root of the issue and does little to reduce costs. She argues that the directive is more symbolic than practical, as most government appointees already travel business class, which remains a costly option.

Anamoah points out that in Ghana, only Emirates offers first-class services. Other major airlines, such as British Airways, KLM, and Brussels Airlines, provide business class, premium economy, and economy options. Since first-class travel is rarely an option for most flights, the new directive does little to change the status quo. Appointees will continue to travel business class, which is already their default choice, meaning the policy does not achieve its intended goal of reducing expenses.

To make a real impact, Anamoah suggests that government officials should be required to travel in premium economy class instead of business class. This shift, she argues, would result in significant cost savings. “If President John Dramani Mahama is serious about cutting costs, appointees should be directed to use premium economy. Business class has always been their go-to option, so simply banning first-class travel doesn’t solve the problem,” she stated.

Anamoah also drew attention to the travel practices of foreign diplomats in Ghana, noting that many heads of missions from countries such as Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom travel in economy class. “These individuals represent their countries’ presidents, yet they are not permitted to fly business class. If they can travel economy, why can’t our officials do the same?” she questioned. Her remarks highlight a stark contrast between the travel habits of Ghanaian officials and those of their international counterparts.

Her critique underscores the need for more stringent and practical measures to curb government spending on travel. While the ban on first-class travel may seem like a step in the right direction, it falls short of addressing the broader issue of excessive travel expenses. By shifting to premium economy or even economy class, government officials could set a precedent for fiscal responsibility and demonstrate a genuine commitment to reducing costs.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com