Bernard Anbataayela Mornah, former National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and now a presidential hopeful, has voiced significant concerns over the government’s approach to managing state-owned assets. Mornah’s comments came during an interview with Citi FM, where he lamented the sale of these assets to what he describes as government cronies.
Mornah, who is also a key figure in the Arise Ghana Movement, questioned the logic behind the government’s strategy to privatize struggling state agencies instead of revitalizing them. He described this practice as “myopic and midget thinking,” advocating instead for reforms that would restore their profitability and enhance their contribution to the national economy.
During the interview, Mornah emphasized the potential of these institutions to serve the nation better if properly managed. He argued that state assets should not be viewed as opportunities for personal gain but as national resources that require careful stewardship to ensure their sustainability and growth. According to Mornah, the goal of governance should be to enhance these assets, thereby increasing the nation’s wealth.
“State assets are entrusted to our officials not for personal enrichment but for effective management,” Mornah stated, stressing that these assets should be administered with the nation’s best interests at heart. He expressed dismay at the actions of certain government appointees who seem more focused on personal profit than on the growth and maintenance of these assets.
Mornah accused some officials of engaging in what he called ‘state capture,’ where they manipulate their positions for self-benefit at the nation’s expense. This, he argued, erodes public trust and accountability, undermining the democratic foundations of governance.
“We expect appointed officials to maintain and enhance the state’s assets, not deplete them,” he continued. He criticized the government’s tendency to appoint individuals who, rather than improving state assets, oversee their decline—making them ripe for privatization and personal acquisition.
The former chairman’s remarks underscore a deep-seated issue within the current administration’s handling of public assets, highlighting a need for a shift towards more transparent and accountable governance practices. Mornah called on society to recognize and challenge these practices, advocating for a more responsible and beneficial management of state resources. His passionate plea points to the broader implications of such governance practices on national development and the moral integrity of public administration.
