President Adama Barrow has ordered the immediate suspension of all non-statutory official travel by public officials, citing mounting economic pressure linked to global geopolitical tensions.

The directive, issued by the Office of the President, comes as the government moves to cut spending and prioritise critical needs in response to disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

Officials said the crisis has affected global supply chains and access to essential goods, placing additional strain on national resources.

Under the new measures, only travel deemed strictly necessary and statutory will be permitted, and only with prior approval from the Office of the President.

“All such requests must be rigorously scrutinised, fully justified, and limited to the minimum number of officials required,” the statement said.

The directive applies to a wide range of senior officials, including permanent secretaries, heads of agencies, chief executives and managing directors, who will be held responsible for ensuring compliance.

In a further sign of tightened controls, the government has instructed the Director General of Immigration to deny exit clearance to any official travelling without proper authorisation.

He warned that any breach of the directive will be treated as misconduct and could lead to disciplinary action.

The government said the move is part of broader efforts to enforce prudent financial management and ensure limited resources are directed toward priority areas during a period of global uncertainty.

The suspension takes immediate effect and will remain in place until further notice.

By Adama Makasuba