Background:
My generation grew up under General Ignatus Kutu Acheampong. In secondary school, we had the privilege of visiting GIHOC factories in Nsawan, Accra, Tema, Kade, Juapong and Bolgatanga. These visits were part of the general curriculum in those days. Every student looked forward to such trips for many reasons. For some it was the first time travelling out of the Northern Region and yet for some it was the first time visiting a factory or a place of production that our textbooks vividly described. Sadly, that era has passed as those factories are now defunct.
The Problem
The purpose of this write-up is to call for the need for an efficient public service administration of all government owned public sector corporations and entities that are still standing today. I am alarmed that failure to effectively and efficiently run them may result in their slow demise. Unlike what is traditionally the case where an entity may be acquired by a rival organization in a takeover bid, our system does not operate like a true private company, these entities are either Government owned or quasi-government owned.
Last week, the Minister of Health visited the Tamale Teaching Hospital and caused to be dismissed the Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital. This week the Minister of Health caused to be dismissed the Chief Executive Officer of KATH in Kumasi. A cursory look at the reasons given in both cases was lack of efficiency of the administration in resolving pressing issues being faced by both Hospitals.
Suggested Solutions
What is missing from these actions are the respective Boards that oversee the operations of these hospitals. My belief is that at each Beard’s quarterly or annual meetings the balance sheets are reviewed against a measure to determine the efficiency or otherwise of the operations of the Hospital and pass a vote of confidence or no confidence for the continuation of tenure or otherwise of the CEO. In short, the CEO answers to the Board and the Board answers to the shareholders (We the People of Ghana). I have the following questions:
Is it true that CEOs and others are hired by the Boards to carry out the mandate given by the Boards? Are the Boards really doing what they are supposed to be doing in managing our public entities? Who holds the Board accountable? Are there mechanisms in place for the termination of CEOs by the Board or stakeholders? If that is the case, then why should the termination of a CEO always be the prerogative of someone else? How are CEOs appointed to head our Teaching Hospitals and by extension all public entities? What is the interview process? How are Boards for government entities appointed? What are the criteria for such appointments? How are these positions advertised?
Conclusion
As a country we have had numerous public sector reforms over the years, yet they do not seem to work. We keep making the same mistakes every day. If you are a business owner and you cannot operate efficiently to make a profit, then you are out of business. The same should apply to all Government owned entities.
Luckily, we have a functioning democracy where there are parliamentary oversights for every government entity. What have these oversight committees being doing? I am yet to witness a Hospital CEO testifying at such a parliamentary committee in the name of Government Efficiency and Accountability. This is what is needed in my view.
My bias is an efficient Ghana for posterity and in the words of Ayikwei Armah, the beautiful ones are not yet born, so let preserve what we have for those yet unborn.
