Mahama warns government appointees against conflict of interest and mismanagement

President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned members of his administration and governing boards of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to avoid conflicts of interest, abuse of office and the mismanagement of public resources.

He emphasised that officials entrusted with managing state institutions and assets must demonstrate strong standards of integrity, transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties.

Speaking on Thursday, September 10, at the 2026 SIGA Governing Boards and CEOs Conference, President Mahama said government appointees and board members have a duty to safeguard the public interest and ensure that decisions taken under their authority are transparent and capable of withstanding public scrutiny.

He urged boards and management teams of SOEs to operate strictly within the law and comply with established procedures.

The President warned that his administration would not tolerate conflicts of interest or the misuse of public office. He stressed that procurement processes must be lawful, competitive and transparent, while recruitment and promotions should be based solely on merit.

He further called for contracts, investments and the disposal of state assets to be handled responsibly, with all decisions demonstrating value for money and standing up to scrutiny.

President Mahama also placed personal responsibility on governing boards for the proper management of lands, buildings, equipment and investments under their control.

He cautioned that the unauthorised disposal, encroachment upon or loss of state assets should not be treated as a simple administrative error, describing such actions as a betrayal of the trust placed in public officials by the people of Ghana.

The President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to holding officials accountable for the management of public institutions and resources.

The conference brought together governing board members and Chief Executive Officers of SOEs to deliberate on corporate governance, accountability, institutional performance and strategies for improving the management of state-owned institutions.