A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Aborbi, has welcomed President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to dissolve the governing boards of nine state institutions but says the Presidency should have provided reasons for the move.
President Mahama has dissolved the boards of Prestea Sankofa Gold Limited, Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST), Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO), Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited (CBG), Ghana Post Company Limited, the Road Maintenance Trust Fund, TDC Ghana Limited, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and the National Sports Authority, with immediate effect.
In a directive, the President instructed the relevant sector Ministers to take all necessary steps, in accordance with the applicable laws and governing instruments, to give effect to the dissolution.
The Presidency has indicated that the affected boards will be reconstituted in due course.
Speaking on Nkosuo Nsem on Plan B FM with Kofi Sekyi, Samuel Aborbi said while he considers the decision a step in the right direction and a demonstration of accountability, the government should have explained the circumstances that led to the dissolution of each board.
He said such explanations would have helped Ghanaians better understand the issues surrounding the affected institutions and, in his view, made the decision fairer and more transparent.
Mr. Aborbi also accused the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration of mismanaging some state institutions, resulting in significant losses.
He argued that the current NDC administration had, in some cases, succeeded in turning around struggling state institutions, restoring their operations and improving their ability to generate revenue and profits.
He cited the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), under its current Chief Executive Officer, as an example of an institution he believes has seen efforts to improve its performance under the current administration.
Mr. Aborbi, however, maintained that despite his support for the dissolution of the boards, the Presidency should have accompanied the announcement with clear reasons for the decision.
He believes providing the public with the basis for dissolving each board would strengthen transparency and allow Ghanaians to properly assess the government’s actions.
By: Bernard Mensah
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