Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned governing boards of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) against assuming management functions, asserting that such practices weaken accountability and negatively impact institutional performance. He emphasized the importance of boards and management teams operating within their designated mandates.
According to Ghana News Agency, the President addressed the issue during the 2026 Governing Boards and CEOs Conference organised by the State Interests and Governance Authority in Accra. He explained that boards are tasked with providing strategic direction, overseeing risks, ensuring the integrity of financial reporting, and monitoring institutional performance. The conference aimed to promote good corporate governance of SOEs following a successful previous year.
The President expressed concern over some board chairpersons taking on executive roles, acting as if they were involved in the daily management of their institutions. He stated, "A board chairperson must not take up offices in their entities and report to work every day as though they occupy full-time executive positions." He underscored the distinct roles of boards and management, clarifying that "boards govern and management manages."
This directive is part of recent efforts to enhance governance within State Enterprises, following the dissolution of some SOE boards. President Mahama noted that boards taking over routine operational decisions lead to weakened accountability due to interference, while chief executives resisting legitimate board oversight also undermine accountability and effective governance.
He stressed that board membership should not be seen as merely ceremonial or as an entitlement. Board members were urged to exercise independent judgement, scrutinise proposals, and ask challenging questions when necessary. The President also emphasized that "board members must always place the public interest above personal interests and political considerations," and that loyalty to the government should not equate to silence in the face of potentially harmful decisions.
Reiterating his administration's commitment to accountability, transparency, and good corporate governance, President Mahama called for appointments to boards and management positions to be based on competence, integrity, diligence, and performance. He urged boards to ensure transparent procurement processes, merit-based recruitment, and proper management of state assets, asserting that effective governance is essential to improve the performance of state enterprises and protect public resources.