President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to tie the salaries and other compensation of executives and board members of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to the actual performance of their institutions under the proposed Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC).

The proposed commission is expected to replace the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and introduce a more consistent, transparent and performance-based approach to public-sector remuneration.

Pay must reflect performance

President Mahama said compensation for executives of state-owned enterprises should no longer be determined independently of how their institutions perform.

He explained that factors such as an SOE’s financial position, productivity, achievement of agreed targets, quality of services and value created for the state should all be considered when determining executive compensation.

The President also cautioned that institutional autonomy must not be used as a justification for unexplained salary disparities or compensation arrangements that have no connection to performance.

IPEC to replace Fair Wages Commission

The proposed IPEC forms part of the government’s broader public-sector compensation reforms.

The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has already engaged organised labour on plans to establish the new body, with the proposed legislation expected to repeal the existing FWSC Act, 2007 (Act 737).

The new framework is expected to promote greater fairness, transparency and sustainability in the determination of public-sector salaries and benefits.

SOEs record GH¢19.8bn profit

Mahama’s announcement comes as State-Owned Enterprises record a significant improvement in their overall financial performance.

According to the 2025 State Ownership Report presented at the 2026 Governing Boards and CEOs’ Conference, SOEs moved from an aggregate net loss of GH¢2.26 billion in 2024 to a net profit of GH¢19.8 billion in 2025.

The President welcomed the turnaround but stressed that the gains must translate into sustained efficiency and greater value for the Ghanaian taxpayer.

‘Public money must serve Ghanaians’

Mahama also warned SOE executives and board members against using profits belonging to the state to finance excessive personal benefits.

He said public enterprises must ensure that their improved financial performance ultimately benefits the Ghanaian people rather than being absorbed through management and board perks.

Performance-based pay takes centre stage

The proposed IPEC is therefore expected to fundamentally change how compensation is determined across Ghana’s public sector.

Earlier in March, Mahama said the new commission would develop a comprehensive National Emoluments Policy aimed at addressing salary disparities, harmonising allowances and strengthening performance-based compensation.

If implemented, the reform would make institutional performance a much more important factor in determining what executives of SOEs and other public institutions earn.

For Mahama, the message is clear: public-sector salaries must be justified by performance, productivity and the value delivered to Ghana.

Private schools are calling for a major rethink of government’s approach to senior high school support, proposing that subsidies currently benefiting boarding students be redirected to day schools to help ease the growing pressure on the SHS placement system.

The proposal comes amid continuing concerns over congestion, limited boarding spaces and the difficulties faced by students who fail to secure places in their preferred senior high schools.

Private schools propose a new approach

The private school sector believes redirecting part of the resources used to support boarding arrangements could provide a practical way to expand access to secondary education.

Under the proposal, more emphasis would be placed on supporting day students, particularly those who could attend schools closer to their homes instead of competing for limited boarding spaces.

The approach, proponents argue, could reduce the pressure on existing boarding facilities while creating more opportunities for students affected by the placement challenges.

SHS placement crisis intensifies

Ghana’s SHS placement system has repeatedly faced pressure as demand for places in popular schools continues to exceed available capacity.

Students and parents have often been left frustrated when their preferred schools are unavailable, forcing them to consider alternative institutions or seek solutions outside the initial placement arrangements.

Private schools argue that some of this pressure could be reduced if more students were encouraged and supported to attend quality day schools within their communities.

Subsidies could ease pressure

The proposal is based on the argument that government resources should be deployed in a way that maximises the number of students who can access secondary education.

Rather than concentrating resources around boarding arrangements, private school operators believe financial support for day-school students could help absorb some of the excess demand.

Such a policy, they argue, could also give parents more options while reducing the intense competition for places in boarding schools.

Bigger debate over Ghana’s SHS system

The proposal is likely to fuel a broader conversation about how Ghana should manage the increasing demand for secondary education.

While the government continues to expand access to SHS education, stakeholders are also calling for innovative solutions to infrastructure constraints and the persistent pressure on the placement system.

For private schools, redirecting some boarding-related subsidies towards day schools could be one way of tackling the problem.

The proposal now puts the spotlight on policymakers to consider whether a shift in funding priorities could help decongest boarding schools, expand access and reduce the annual anxiety surrounding SHS placement.

President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stern warning to boards and management of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), cautioning them against using public funds to finance personal benefits while taxpayers carry the burden.

Speaking at the 2026 Governing Boards and CEOs Conference organised by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, September 10, 2026, President Mahama said profits generated by state enterprises must ultimately serve the Ghanaian people.

‘Don’t use public money for creature comforts’

President Mahama was blunt in his warning, telling SOE leaders that profits belonging to the state should not be diverted into perks and personal comforts for management and board members.

He stressed that profitable enterprises have a responsibility to meet their dividend obligations to the state because returns on public investments belong to Ghanaians.

SOEs move from GH¢2.26bn loss to GH¢19.8bn profit

The President acknowledged a significant improvement in the overall financial performance of SOEs.

According to figures presented at the conference, the sector moved from an aggregate net loss of GH¢2.26 billion in 2024 to a net profit of GH¢19.8 billion in 2025.

Combined revenue also rose from GH¢137.71 billion to GH¢176.43 billion over the same period.

However, Mahama cautioned that the improvement should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of stronger underlying operations.

He noted that about GH¢11.72 billion in net foreign exchange gains and a 42.5% reduction in aggregate finance costs contributed significantly to the improved results.

‘A one-year turnaround is not enough’

President Mahama said the real test for SOEs would be whether they could sustain the gains beyond a single year.

“A one-year turnaround is encouraging, but sustained performance is the real test,” he said.

He warned that boards and management teams would be assessed against defined financial, operational, governance and development targets.

Persistent underperformance, he added, could lead to corrective measures and, where necessary, leadership changes.

‘A board is not a ceremonial position’

The President also challenged board members to take their responsibilities seriously, stressing that their appointments were not merely ceremonial.

He said boards are responsible for strategic direction, policy, risk oversight, financial reporting and institutional performance.

At the same time, he warned boards against interfering excessively in the day-to-day operations of their institutions, stressing the distinction between governance and management.

“Boards govern and management manages,” he said.

Performance must determine pay

Mahama further argued that executive compensation in public enterprises should be tied to performance.

He said high-performing enterprises and their leaders should be appropriately rewarded, but questioned the justification for continually increasing salaries and allowances in chronically loss-making entities.

The President also highlighted the proposed Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC), which is expected to strengthen consistency and transparency in public-sector remuneration and link compensation more closely to institutional performance.

‘Public ownership must produce public value’

President Mahama noted that despite the overall improvement, some SOEs continued to struggle, with five entities recording losses in every year between 2021 and 2025.

He therefore directed boards to scrutinise major expenditures and determine whether they were necessary, economical and consistent with their institutional mandates.

The President reminded SOE leaders that state assets do not belong to individual governments, boards or chief executives.

They belong to the Ghanaian people.

His message to board chairpersons, members and chief executives was therefore clear: the public expects measurable value from the assets entrusted to them.

As the government pushes for greater efficiency and accountability across the SOE sector, President Mahama’s warning signals that public resources must translate into public value — not private perks.

The Tema Regional Police Command has arrested two persons and seized 692 parcels of suspected Indian hemp during a snap-check operation at Dawhenya in the Prampram Division.

The suspects have been identified as Godwin Asigeh and Freeman Amedoku.

According to a press release issued by the Tema Regional Police Headquarters’ Public Affairs Unit and signed by ASP Dede Dzakpasu, Head of Public Affairs, the arrest was made in the early hours of Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

Police said officers intercepted an Accra-bound Ford Transit vehicle with registration number GT 6140-22 at about 12:45 a.m.

The vehicle was being driven by Godwin Asigeh, with Freeman Amedoku serving as his assistant.

A search conducted on the vehicle led to the discovery of 692 parcels of a substance suspected to be Indian hemp, wrapped in yellow polythene bags.

Following the discovery, the two suspects, together with the vehicle and the suspected narcotic substance, were conveyed to the Devtraco Police Station for further action.

The police said the suspected substance has been retained as an exhibit, while the Ford Transit vehicle has been impounded.

Both suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue.

The Tema Regional Police Command commended the officers who carried out the operation and assured the public that it would intensify efforts to prevent the trafficking and distribution of narcotic substances in the region.

President John Dramani Mahama has commended the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) for its strong financial performance, describing the results as deserving of recognition while cautioning that the institution must sustain its gains through stronger core operations.

Speaking at the 2026 Governing Boards and Chief Executive Officers’ Conference organised by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), President Mahama highlighted GoldBod’s significant improvement in profitability.

According to the President, GoldBod recorded a net profit of approximately US$896.5 million, compared with US$178.5 million in 2024, representing a remarkable turnaround in the institution’s financial performance.

He said the results demonstrated the strategic importance of establishing transparent, accountable and nationally beneficial structures around Ghana’s gold trade.

“This performance reflects the strategic importance of building transparent, accountable and nationally beneficial structures around Ghana’s gold trade,” President Mahama said.

He noted that the financial results deserved commendation, given the substantial increase in GoldBod’s profitability.

“These results deserve commendation,” he stated.

However, President Mahama stressed that the positive performance must be maintained over the long term and should not be dependent solely on favourable external conditions.

He cautioned that GoldBod must strengthen its core operations to ensure that its financial success remains sustainable, rather than relying indefinitely on improvements in the business environment or movements in the exchange rate.

“They must, however, be sustained through stronger core operations and cannot depend indefinitely on just a better business environment and the exchange rate movements,” the President said.

President Mahama added that while the one-year financial turnaround was encouraging, the real measure of GoldBod’s success would be its ability to maintain and build upon the performance in the years ahead.

“A one-year turnaround is encouraging, but sustained performance is the real test,” he emphasised.

The President’s comments refocus attention on GoldBod’s role in Ghana’s gold sector and the need for strong governance, transparency, and operational efficiency to ensure the country derives lasting national benefits from its gold resources.