Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has raised serious concerns over the absence of a comprehensive national register of state assets, warning that the situation undermines transparency, accountability, and effective public financial management.
Speaking at the inauguration of a National Asset Management Working Committee in Accra, Dr. Forson noted that the lack of a centralised asset inventory has created opportunities for misuse, neglect, and even illegal sale and occupation of public properties.
“This situation is deeply concerning. Without proper asset management structures, we risk further erosion of state resources and public trust,” he stressed.
Committee to Lead Asset Audit and Oversight
In response, the Finance Ministry has established the National Asset Management Working Committee, chaired by Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Ampem Nyarko. The committee’s primary mandate is to:
- Identify and catalogue all government-owned assets;
- Audit existing assets before new acquisitions are approved;
- Develop a sustainable asset management framework;
- Enhance accountability and preserve public property.
Dr. Forson emphasized that no new asset acquisitions should be made until a comprehensive audit of existing holdings is completed.
Broad Representation Across Key Institutions
The committee is composed of high-level representatives from various ministries and public institutions, including:
- Office of the President – Abigail Naa Odoi (Deputy Director)
- Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources – Edwin Nkrumah (Assistant Chief Estate Manager)
- Attorney-General’s Department – Dr. Sylvia Adusu (Chief State Attorney)
- Ministry of Education – Mavis Asare Donkor (Director of General Administration)
- Ministry of Health – Frank Raji (Director of General Administration)
- Ministry of Defence – Theophilus Okine (Director of Procurement & Supply Chain)
- Ministry of the Interior – Dr. Gideon Asamoah Tetteh (Director of Finance & Administration)
- Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources – Erya Nutsugah (Director of Policy, Planning, Budget, Monitoring & Evaluation)
- Ministry of Local Government – Dela Kemevor (Director of General Administration)
- Office of the Administrator-General – Walter A. Adabere (Acting Director of Administration & Deputy Director for Research)
- Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands – Dr. Gad Asowoe Akwensivie (Ag. Administrator)
- Lands Commission – Anthony Mallen Ntiador (Ag. Deputy Executive Secretary)
- Public Works Department – James Bondzie (Principal Estate Manager)
- SIGA – Millicent Atuguba (Acting General Manager for Operations)
Next Steps
The committee will collaborate with state agencies to create a central database of public assets and provide strategic recommendations for institutional reforms and oversight mechanisms.
The move is expected to curb asset mismanagement, prevent duplication of infrastructure investments, and promote fiscal discipline.
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