Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has made an open call for architectural competition for the design of new embassies and high commissions, part of a wider plan to cut the country’s $15 million annual rent bill for diplomatic missions.
He announced that the designs, to be known as Ghana Houses, will serve as a standard model for permanent state-owned facilities abroad. The competition, which runs until November 14, is open to all Ghanaian architects, from recent graduates to established practitioners.
“This is a refreshing departure from the recent past when all major national projects were single-sourced to one architect,” Ablakwa said during his presentation at the Government Accountability Series. “Our approach reflects transparency, inclusiveness, and our reset agenda.”
The competition forms part of the Strategic Transition from Renting to Infrastructure Development (STRIDE) initiative, approved by cabinet to replace rented diplomatic facilities with permanent state-owned properties. According to Ablakwa, Ghana has already secured donated land in 23 countries and will work with a consortium of banks to finance construction.
“Ghana cannot continue spending $15 million every year on rent for diplomatic missions. This cannot be judicious use of taxpayer resources,” Ablakwa said. He added that the program is designed not only to save costs but also to project Ghana’s cultural heritage and dignity abroad.
