The Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Prof. Michael Kpessa-Whyte, has said it is inaccurate for persons to suggest that the Presidency gave no justification for dissolving nine Boards of State-Owned Enterprises.
President John Dramani Mahama announced the dissolution of Boards of nine state institutions on September 2, including GNPC, BOST, VALCO, CBG, Ghana Post, TDC Ghana, Prestea Sankofa Gold, the Road Maintenance Trust Fund and the National Sports Authority.
The Presidency said the move formed part of an ongoing administrative reorganisation.
Speaking on TV3’s Daily Brief, Thursday, September 10, Prof. Kpessa-Whyte said the dissolution should not be discussed as though the Presidency had offered no explanation.
“Sometimes, it amazes me that we discuss the dissolution as though no comment was given at all by the President on the dissolution. In fact, the document did say that that dissolution was part of a general administrative reorganisation,” he stated.
Prof. Kpessa-Whyte said the President’s explanation should be considered when assessing the decision.
“I think that the letter that dissolved the Boards, in that letter the President’s Office provided at least some reason for why the Boards were dissolved,” he added.
Prof. Kpessa-Whyte cautioned against directly linking the President’s comments at the SIGA Governing Boards and CEOs Conference in Accra on Thursday, September 10 to the earlier dissolution of the boards.
“And so, to that extent I am not sure that the connection you are drawing between the President’s general comment at the SIGA Governing Boards and CEOs today necessarily could be linked to that dissolution,” he noted.
He said the President’s remarks to governing boards and chief executives at the conference should instead be understood within the broader context of improving performance and accountability among state-owned enterprises.
President Mahama, addressing the conference, warned that persistent underperformance by state-owned enterprises could result in turnaround measures, including changes to governing boards and chief executives.
Prof. Kpessa-Whyte said the conference itself provided an appropriate platform for the President to offer guidance to governing boards.
“Mind you, the meeting today provides the perfect environment for the President to offer that kind of advice to Boards.”
