President John Dramani Mahama has warned State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) that government will no longer continue to absorb persistent financial losses from institutions managing public assets.
Speaking at the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) Governing Boards and CEOs Conference 2026 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, President Mahama said SOEs must become more efficient, accountable and financially sustainable.
According to him, leadership of state institutions must be judged by measurable performance, value creation and the ability to reduce reliance on government support.
“Persistent losses will no longer be quietly absorbed into the national budget,” President Mahama said.
He stressed that the assets managed by SOEs belong to the Ghanaian people and must be protected and utilised in the public interest.
“These assets do not belong to any government, a board, or a chief executive. They belong to the people of Ghana, and you and I hold them only in trust for the people,” he said.
President Mahama therefore urged boards and management teams to take greater responsibility for the performance of the institutions under their control.
His warning comes amid ongoing efforts to improve the financial performance and governance of Ghana’s SOE sector. SIGA’s 2025 State Ownership Report recorded a major improvement in the sector, with SOEs posting GH¢19.80 billion in net profit after tax in 2025, compared with a GH¢2.25 billion net loss in 2024.
However, SIGA also reported that several entities continued to record losses consistently, underscoring the need for sustained reforms and stronger financial discipline.
