'Woe Betide You': Why President Mahama issued a stern warning to SOE CEOs

In a bid to strengthen accountability and transparency, President John Dramani Mahama has directed all Chief Executive Officers of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to submit their audited accounts and annual reports by the end of April 2026, warning of consequences for non-compliance.

The President made the announcement while addressing Ghanaians in Zambia during an engagement on February 4, 2026.

President Mahama observed that several state-owned enterprises have, for years, failed to fulfil their statutory reporting obligations, a situation he said has severely undermined transparency and accountability in the public sector.

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“There are many state-owned enterprises that, for seven to eight years, have never produced an annual report, even though it is required by law,” he stated.

He emphasised that such negligence is unacceptable and will no longer be tolerated under his administration, adding that strict timelines have now been set to ensure compliance.

“This year, I say woe betide any Chief Executive of a state-owned enterprise who, by the end of April, has not completed their audits and submitted their annual reports,” President Mahama warned.

Although the President did not explicitly spell out the penalties for defaulting officials, his remarks strongly suggested that heads of state institutions who fail to comply would face decisive action.

“I won’t say what will happen,” he added.

Watch the video below:

"Woe betide any Chief Executive of a State Owned Enterprise who, by the end of April, has not done their audit and presented their annual report." - President John Dramani Mahama directs the C.E.Os of SOEs to present their annual reports before the deadline.#Corruption #Ghana… pic.twitter.com/uBhMaMKmTq

— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) February 4, 2026