The government last year introduced a number of roles within its diplomatic workforce and missions. President Mahama appointed a significant number of Deputy Ambassadors and High Commissioners to missions across the globe to further the government’s foreign policy.
In all, a total of 18 deputy ambassadors and high commissioners were appointed to various missions. The additional role, no doubt, has increased the country’s diplomatic bill even though the government promised to operate a lean government.
The question many have asked is: what is the exact cost of maintaining these high-ranking diplomats?
Internal documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recently released under the Right to Information Act, reveal a standardized compensation package that includes not just salaries, but a suite of allowances and benefits that grow significantly depending on the officer’s family size and the climate of their posting.
The Cost of One: From the “Bachelor” to the “Family of Five”
To understand the impact on the national purse, we must look at how much a single Deputy Ambassador costs the state in three common scenarios.
- Scenario 1: The “Minimal” Cost If a deputy is single and posted to a warm climate, the state pays a basic monthly salary of $3639.53 and a $ 150 clothing allowance. This amounts to $3,789.58 a month, $45,474.96 a year, and $181,899.84 after four years.
- Scenario 2: The “Moderate” Cost (Family of Four) For a deputy with a spouse and two children in a temperate (colder) region, the state adds a warm clothing allowance and child allowances (~583/child per month). This sums up to $5,439.58 monthly, $65,274.96 yearly, and $261,099.84 after four years.
- Scenario 3: The “Maximum” Cost (Family of Five) A deputy with three children (the maximum covered by the state) in a cold climate represents the highest standardized expenditure. Such a family will amount to $6,222.91 monthly, $74,674.92 yearly, and $298,699.68 after four years.
The Grand Total: Scaling to 18 Deputies
When we multiply these costs by the 18 new appointees, the numbers reveal the true scale of the annual “diplomatic bill.”
| Time Period | Minimum Expenditure (All 18) | Maximum Expenditure (All 18) |
| One Month | $68,212.44 | $112,012.38 |
| One Year | $818,549.28 | $1,344,148.56 |
| Four-Year Term | $3,274,197.12 | $5,376,594.24 |
In a Maximum Scenario, the state is prepared to spend over $5.3 million by the end of the four-year period if all positions are sustained throughout the tenure.
Beyond the Salary: The “Invisible” Costs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that these figures are only the standardized portion of the expenditure. The total cost to the taxpayer is actually much higher because the state also provides:
- Free Housing & Transport: Fully furnished official accommodation and a chauffeured vehicle for every deputy.
- Domestic Help: The state pays for one domestic staff member per deputy.
- Health & Travel: Full medical coverage for the whole family and airfare for official assignments.
- The “Country Bonus”: On top of the $3,639 basic salary, deputies receive a Foreign Service Allowance (FSA). This amount is not public but is adjusted upward based on how expensive it is to live in their specific country of posting.
A Balance of Representation and Prudence
The Ministry, however, emphasizes that these emoluments are not “personal privileges” but “operational support measures” designed to ensure diplomats can represent the Republic with “dignity and professionalism”.
While the state does claw back 5% of their basic salary for rent and 5% for maintenance, the core investment remains a significant pillar of the national budget.
As these 18 deputies take up their posts, the national purse will be releasing between $818,000 and $1.3 million every year to keep them on the front lines of global diplomacy.
