Prioritise operations of SIGA to address inefficiencies in SEs – John Boadu to incoming government

John Boadu, Director General (DG) of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), has called on the incoming administration to give the Authority the necessary financial backing and support to enable it to effectively deliver on its mandate.

He said with State Entities (SEs) holding close to GH¢400 billion worth of assets, an efficient SIGA would ensure that these assets were used efficiently and profitably to the benefit of government and citizens.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the launch of SIGA's Entity Portal in Accra on Monday, Boadu underscored the need for the incoming administration to put in place measures that would ensure the profitability of the SEs.

"The benefit to be derived from SIGA must be a priority for every government so that appropriate funding is provided because monies in the hands of a lot of the entities which they are expected to work with for the benefit of all is huge.

"Just in asset base, the entities hold close to GH¢400 billion. Imagine giving this money to a fund manager to ensure that these entities are efficient and are managed well, how much would you have paid? So, that's how the government should see SIGA as a fund manager, as shepherds of these entities," he said.

Appointments to SIGA, he advised, should, therefore, "not just be jobs for the boys," but competencies must be prioritised.

"They (incoming government) should bring people who are capable, who understand what it means to understand our Act, who will be able to place SIGA at the level that we expect SIGA to be placed," the DG emphasised.

The SIGA Entity Portal was designed to streamline the operations of SEs by automating processes, centralising reports and financial data and delivering real-time insights.

Also, it would empower SIGA and its stakeholders to make informed, timely decisions while enhancing efficiency, transparency and accountability within the SE sector.

Mr Boadu said the portal's launch formed part of SIGA's efforts to modernise governance practices and promote accountability.

"The introduction of the SIGA Entity Portal demonstrates our commitment to leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, streamline operations, and promote accountability among SEs," he stressed.

To ensure a seamless transition, Boadu said SIGA would roll out training and onboarding sessions for the various SEs in batches in the coming months.

"This phased approach is designed to equip stakeholders with the necessary skills to maximise the portal's potential," he added.

He urged all SE's to actively participate in the implementation of the portal and provide feedback to ensure it achieved the goal for which it was created.

Eric Albert Opoku, Head of Division, Governance Risk and Compliance, SIGA, said that SIGA should improve its support to these entities and make them more profitable, urging the various SEs to ensure that information sent to the platform was authentic.

"This portal is not a fault-finding portal," he assured.