The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) is calling for a constitutional provision to prevent Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Members of Parliament from serving on the boards of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).
The IEA argues that SOE governance must be separated from partisan politics and built around competence, professionalism and accountability.
At a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, September 2, former Chief Justice and Distinguished Fellow at IEA Ghana, Justice Sophia Akuffo, disagreed with the Prof. H. K. Prempeh chaired Constitutional Review Committee proposals and the government. She said the proposed restriction should be entrenched in the 1992 Constitution rather than left to ordinary legislation.
“The governance of SOEs should be based primarily on competence, professionalism, independence and accountability rather than political affiliation,” the IEA stated.
The Prempeh Committee had proposed constitutionally barring Ministers, Deputy Ministers and MPs from serving on SOE boards.
Government, however, believes the issue should be dealt with through ordinary legislation rather than a constitutional amendment.
The IEA disagrees, arguing that constitutional protection would provide stronger safeguards against political interference in the management of state-owned institutions.
“Entrenching this principle in the Constitution would provide stronger protection against recurrent political interference,” the Institute stated.
The Institute has also backed a proposal to prevent MPs from simultaneously serving as Ministers, Deputy Ministers or Regional Ministers.
It argues that separating Parliament from the Executive would strengthen parliamentary oversight and allow MPs to scrutinise government without being dependent on presidential appointments.
The IEA said these reforms are necessary to build institutions.
