As part of plans to engage key stakeholders to gather support for its activities and Entities, the Director-General and senior management of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), have paid a courtesy call on Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace.
The purpose of the visit was to officially introduce SIGA to the Asantehene and also update him on it’s activities. The visit also offered them an opportunity to have discussions on areas where SIGA can collaborate with the Palace for mutual benefits.
Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Edward Boateng thanked the Asantehene for the advice he gave him when he was initially appointed Director-General of SIGA. He stated that the advice has proved very valuable and has guided him well in the discharge of his duties to date.
Ambassador Boateng also took the opportunity to update the Asantehene on the key achievements of SIGA such as negotiating performance contracts with the Specified Entities to ensure they operate profitably and adhere to good governance practices while collaborating with other government organisations such as the Controller and Accountant General, Public Services Commission, Auditor-General to mention a few to support the Specified Entities.
The Asantehene on his part welcomed the delegation and stated that the work SIGA is mandated to do is quite crucial to the development of the country as the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) provide a lot of development to Ghanaians. He also stated that for SIGA to be effective in its mandate, it needed to be fully empowered. He charged Government to resource and empower SIGA to be able to raise funding for SOEs as well as review their annual budgets and operational plans. He said, “SIGA must work hard to make these SOEs profitable and eventually wean them off government support.”
Ambassador Boateng thanked the Asantehene for the warm reception and his pledge to support the work of SIGA and promised to periodically update him on the status of progress, request his advice and support when needed.
Members of the delegation included Franklin Asafo Adjei, Board Member, Madam Hollistar Duah-Yentumi, General Manager, Operations, Madam Alexandra Totoe General Manager Finance and Administration, Mr. Kwame Agyemang-Budu. Senior Technical Advisor, Energy Sector, Stephen Asiedu, Head of Division, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Alex Agambila. Ag. HOD, Finance, Godfred Sowah Khartey, Manager, Director-General Secretariat, Mr. Musa Frimpong Manager, Governance Risk and Compliance, Araba Pratt. Assistant Manager Corporate Affairs.