P.V. Juantuah calls for merit-based appointments in State-Owned Enterprises

Mr P.V. Juantuah Boateng Dadson, Former presidential staffer

Former presidential staffer Mr. P.V. Juantuah Boateng Dadson is urging governments to abandon the practice of appointing party loyalists to head state-owned enterprises (SOEs) if they want these institutions to be profitable.

According to Mr.P. V. Juantuah, these appointments are often used as compensation for party members who contributed financially to winning political power.

Merit-Based appointments: A solution to SOEs’ challenges

Mr. Juantuah advocates for appointing individuals with integrity, passion, and technical expertise to lead SOEs.

He believes this approach can bring innovative solutions to struggling enterprises.

 “Appointing politically loyal people with little experience causes governance problems for many state-owned enterprises, which reduces their profitability,” he stated.

 Mr. Juantuah made the statement during an interview on Otec FM’s morning show “Nyansapo,” hosted by Kwaku Owusu Boateng (KOD) on Friday, April 17, 2025.

The problem with political patronage

Political patronage in appointments often leads to maladministration and resource mismanagement in SOEs, negatively impacting their financial performance,” he said.

 P. V. Juantuah questioned the effectiveness of having party loyalists as board members, whose supervisory role is to guide and oversee organizational activities.

 “How can they perform their functions well?” he asked.

Proposed reforms

To address these challenges, Mr. Juantuah recommended that presidents should set clear targets and timelines for SOEs, with consequences for underperformance.

“Anyone who fails to meet these targets should be sacked to serve as a deterrent,” posited.

He also recommended that the president’s sole authority to appoint heads and board members of SOEs should be abolished, paving the way for merit-based appointments.

By adopting these reforms, Juantuah believes SOEs can become more efficient and effective, ultimately contributing to the nation’s economic growth and development.

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah