Foreign Minister, Hackman Owusu Agyeman has been defending the controversial decision to increase the daily allowances given to government officials who embark on foreign tours including trips with the President. Officials now receive $200 instead of the $23 they previously received.

The Foreign Minister told JOYFM that the $23 was woefully inadequate since it covered hotel accommodation and other incidental expenses. According to him, although members of the previous government received only $23, they always travelled with huge sums of money, which caused serious financial loss to the state. It is to avert such a situation that government decided to give officials realistic allowances.