President of Ghana John Mahama has banned public officials from first class air travel in a renewed effort to cut wasteful spending

President of Ghana John Mahama has banned public officials from first class air travel in a renewed effort to cut wasteful spending as the West African nation implements an IMF aid deal to revive state finances, the government said on Tuesday.

 The presidency issued the directive this week asking all ministers and other top officials to avoid "unwarranted" foreign trips on the public purse, Communications Minister Edward Omane Boamah told Reuters.Ghana is preparing to hold presidential and parliamentary elections next year and, with the opposition accusing government ministers of inflating contract sums, inappropriate spending will likely be a top campaign issue.