As part of its plans for engaging 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 the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace.
The visit’s purpose was to officially introduce SIGA to the Asantehene and update him on its activities so far. The visit also offered them an opportunity to have discussions on areas in which SIGA can collaborate with the Palace for mutual benefit.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Edward Boateng thanked the Asantehene for advice he gave him when he was initially appointed Director-General of SIGA. He stated that the advice has proved very valuable and guided him well in the discharge of his duties to date.
Ambassador Boateng also took the opportunity to update the Asantehene on SIGA’s key achievements: such as negotiating performance contacts with the Specified Entities to ensure they operate profitably and adhere to good governance practices; and collaborating with other government organisations such as the Controller and Accountant-General, Public Services Commission and 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 development of the country, as state-owned enterprises (SOEs) provide a lot of development to Ghanaians. He also stated that for SIGA to be effective in its mandate, it needs to be fully empowered. He charged government to resource and empower SIGA to be enabled in raising 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 SIGA work, and promised to periodically update the Asantehene on the status of progress and request his advice and support when needed.
Members of the delegation included Mr. Boateng, Director-General; 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; and Araba Pratt, Assistant Manager Corporate Affairs.
