The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has inaugurated the National Asset Management Working Committee (the NAMWC) to ensure the proper coordination and alignment of activities of key state institutions in the country for effective performance of the asset management function of the state.
The Committee will provide a platform for key state institutions to report on their work as relates to their respective asset management responsibilities and functions, highlight the progress made, challenges faced and recommendations on possible policy measures that may be required to address these challenges.
At a brief ceremony, Mr. Ofori-Atta tasked the members to bring onboard their knowledge and experience to help properly address, manage, and safeguard the assets of the state.
“There is a myriad of thorny issues that we need to address in order to properly manage and safeguard the assets of the State. These include the lack of a clearly defined and robust framework (policies, processes, and procedures) to guide state institutions in the management, utilization, and disposal of their assets, as well as the absence of a centralized comprehensive inventory of state assets,” he said.
He noted that the uncoordinated and inefficient framework for managing state assets limits government’s ability to ascertain the extent and value of the State’s portfolio of assets and to fully utilize or leverage these assets to support economic development. Hence, it was incumbent of the Committee to put together measures that engender the necessary synergies for effective performance and management of the State’s assets.
The Finance Minister revealed that, “the Ministry is currently finalizing the process of engaging a firm to assist in the development of a robust policy framework for the management of the non-financial assets of the State”.
The members of the Working Committee are Hon. Dr. John A. Kumah (Chair) a Deputy Minister Ministry of Finance; Prof. Kwaku Appiah-Adu Head of Delivery Unit at the Vice President's Secretariat (Office of the President); Ms. Joyce Opoku, Administrator-General of the Office of the Administrator-General; Dr. Edward Akuamoah Boateng, Deputy Controller and Accountant-General, Controller and Accountant-General's Department; Ms. Hollistar Duah-Yentumi, General Manager of Operations, State Interests and Governance Authority, Ms. Alberta Siaw Kwarko Director of General Administration, Ministry of Works & Housing; Mr. David Collison, Director of Public Investment and Assets, Ministry of Finance; Mr. Nii Lante Quarcoopome, Head of Funds & Procurement Management Unit, Ministry of Education; Mr. Bright Kwame Korkoryie, Head of Fixed Assets Coordinating Unit, Ministry of Health.
Other members are Ms. Grace Mbrokoh-Ewoal, Director of Legal, Ministry of Finance; Ms. Mabel Yemidi, Ag. Director of Public & Vested Land Management Division, Lands Commission; Dr. Sylvia Adusu, Ag. Head of International Division, Attorney-General's Department; Mr. Isaac Fraikue, Group Head, Budget Implementation (Budget Division), Ministry of Finance; Mr. Mac-Effort Adadey, Head of National Accounts, Controller and Accountant-General's Department; Mr. Francis Tsetse, Head of IPSAS, Controller and Accountant-General's Department; Mr. Ebenezer Tackie-Yaboi, Head of GIFMIS, Controller and Accountant-General's Department; Mr. Richmond Osei Saben-Fosu, Financial Controller, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; Mr. Edward Borteye, Head of Public Entities and Assets Unit, Ministry of Finance; Mr. Seidu Dawdi Adams, Head of Non-Tax Revenue Unit, Ministry of Finance; and Mr. James Bondzie, Estate Manager, Public Works Department.
The Chairman of the Working Committee, Hon. John Kumah, in his brief remarks thanked the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta for the confidence reposed in the Committee and assured to work assiduously to get the Committee to deliver on its mandate. He added that, the Committee would be guided by their terms of reference and ensure that work was done within the remits of the law. END