In Ghana, MP Dafeamekpor accuses IMF of bias against NDC government
In Ghana, Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has accused the International Monetary Fund of political bias against the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The statement came after the publication of an IMF technical report on the governance of state-owned enterprises, which refers to the politicization of appointments to boards and senior management positions.
As MyJoyOnline reports, the South Dayi MP said in a post on X that, in his view, the Fund more actively criticizes NDC governments for practices that also existed under previous administrations of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He cited the appointment of former NPP chairman Peter Mac Manu as board chairman of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and former minister Hackman Owusu-Agyeman as board chairman of the Ghana Cocoa Board under the Akufo-Addo administration.
IMF findings on appointments
The IMF report states that Ghana is developing a more structured appointment system based on candidates’ professional qualifications. At the same time, according to the Fund’s assessment, appointments in practice remain largely politicized and centralized at the level of presidential authority.
The IMF said that the boards of major state-owned enterprises are predominantly made up of political appointees, while board chairpersons are often ministers, members of parliament, or influential party figures. The Fund also noted that boards have limited influence over the appointment of executive directors or chief executive officers, as they are usually appointed by the president after consultations with the relevant minister.
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The Fund recommended introducing the selection of board members and management of state-owned enterprises based on professional criteria, primarily at enterprises important for the macroeconomy. The IMF also advised gradually reducing the number of current politicians and senior officials on such boards.
2024 data and the 2025 mission
The IMF report was published on September 9, 2026, and its assessment of the financial condition of state-owned enterprises is based mainly on data for 2024. At that time, their liabilities amounted to about 282 billion Ghanaian cedis, or approximately 25% of GDP. The Fund linked the largest fiscal risks to the Electricity Company of Ghana, the Volta River Authority, and the Ghana Cocoa Board.
At the same time, an IMF technical assistance mission worked in Accra from November 24 to December 5, 2025, and met with representatives of government institutions and major enterprises. The governance section also includes observations formed during these consultations, including those concerning the new board of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, which was chaired by the national chairman of the ruling party.
