End political appointments in SOEs — Citizens demand at CDD forum
Ghanaians have called for urgent reforms in the governance of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), demanding an end to political appointments and advocating for transparent, merit-based leadership.
This was revealed at a multi-stakeholder forum held in Accra, where the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), with support from UK International Development, presented findings from a series of post-election town hall meetings conducted across the country.
The report highlighted widespread public dissatisfaction with the politicization of SOE boards. Citizens argued that appointments based on political loyalty rather than competence have weakened performance and led to inefficiencies in public enterprises.
A key recommendation from participants was the exclusion of Members of Parliament from serving on SOE boards. They believe such arrangements blur the lines of accountability and create conflicts of interest.
Other proposals included the enforcement of asset declarations for board members and executives, transparent recruitment processes, and selective privatization of underperforming SOEs. Citizens also suggested that privatized enterprises should be listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange to allow for public investment and scrutiny.
Participants noted that the mismanagement of SOEs has become a drain on the national budget and called for immediate policy reforms to restore public confidence in state institutions.
The recommendations were part of a broader report titled “Citizens’ Expectations of the New Government,” which captured feedback from 14 town hall meetings held in 12 regions between February and March 2025. The forums engaged diverse groups, including civil society, youth organizations, persons with disabilities, women, and the elderly.
CDD-Ghana said the town hall initiative aimed to bridge the gap between citizens and policymakers by amplifying voices often left out of formal governance processes.
