Former Minister for Power and a corporate governance consultant, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, is making a strong case for a rethink of how boards of institutions are constituted in the country, which mostly relegates competence.
For years, board appointments in Ghana have been perceived as political rewards. They are seen as positions handed out as recognition for loyalty rather than merit. But that culture, Dr. Kwabena Donkor says, is increasingly out of touch with the demands of a modern, performance-driven economy.
In an exclusive interview with The High Street Journal, Dr. Donkor called for a fundamental shift in how individuals are selected to serve on the boards of state-owned enterprises and public institutions, arguing that the effect of the current system is the rampant inefficiency, lack of accountability, and poor service delivery.
He narrates that many Ghanaians see board appointments as an opportunity to travel and make money, rather than as a responsibility to make institutions effective, efficient, and, where applicable, profitable.
Dr. Donkor further bemoans that poorly constituted boards often translate into weak oversight, underperformance, and in some cases, financial losses for the state.
“Do we have people who see the appointment to boards as an opportunity to travel, as an opportunity to make money, or see the appointment to boards as a challenge to make the board effective, efficient, and profitable where it is commercial?,” he quizzed.
A Case for Competence Over Connections – The Namibian Way
To address the challenge, Dr. Donkor is urging Ghana to look beyond its borders and learn from the best practices. He believes there should be a reset in how people are appointed to boards, and the country should learn from the Namibian example.
He recounted Namibia’s structured, competence-based approach to board appointments, where prospective directors must first pass examinations in areas such as corporate governance and financial literacy.
Those who succeed, he adds, are then entered into a national database of certified individuals eligible for board roles.
This system, he argues, removes much of the subjectivity and political influence from the process, replacing it with a transparent, merit-based framework.
“I will urge the appointing authority to take a second look at the criteria for selecting people onto boards. There is a Namibian example we may borrow from. In Namibia, there is a secretariat under the finance ministry that oversees state-owned enterprises, equivalent to our SIGA. And anybody who serves on a board must pass an examination on corporate governance or financial literacy, etc,” he recommended.
A Familiar Model in Ghana
Dr. Donkor pointed out that Ghana already operates similar certification systems in other sectors.
He pointed out how the Energy Commission in the energy industry, for example, trains, tests, and certifies electricians before they are licensed to practice.
These certified electricians are added to a pool where Ghanaians must pick from if they need electricians to work on their projects.
Why shouldn’t we apply the same principle to board appointments? he quizzed.
Strengthening Institutions, Not Just Filling Seats
For Dr. Donkor, appointments to boards should not be a mere subject, but must also focus more on outcomes. He recounts that boards that are properly constituted are more likely to drive efficiency, enforce accountability, and deliver results, whether in profit-making enterprises or public service institutions.
He is therefore calling on appointing authorities to “take a second look” at the criteria used in selecting board members, emphasizing that competence, integrity, and a sense of duty must take precedence over political considerations.
The former minister believes Ghana must change the narrative around board service, from a privilege to be enjoyed to a responsibility to be earned.
Such a shift, he suggests, could have transformative effects such as stronger institutions, better governance, and improved outcomes for citizens.
As Ghana continues to grapple with issues of public sector efficiency and accountability, Dr. Donkor believes the Namibian way, where competency triumphs over political affiliations, is one transformative change the country needs.
