By Eric Appah Marfo
Accra, Nov. 12, GNA – Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Presidential Special Envoy on Reparations, has identified leaders’ reluctance to challenge proposals and express dissent during decision-making as a major weakness in Ghana’s governance.
He said concerns about public opinion, political interests, religious expectations and social pressures often discouraged decision-makers from expressing legitimate reservations, weakening institutional deliberations and accountability.
Dr Spio-Garbrah made the observation while chairing the 2026 Boardroom Governance Summit in Accra on Thursday.
Recounting his experience as a Cabinet member, he said a matter presented for discussion once remained unattended for more than 15 minutes after the chairman invited ministers to comment.
He said he eventually asked whether financial advisers were available, prompting a further 40 minutes of discussion.
The experience, he said, demonstrated how silence among decision-makers could deprive institutions of critical perspectives and weaken the quality of decisions.
Dr Spio-Garbrah urged board members to express reservations respectfully but firmly and subject proposals to robust scrutiny before decisions were taken.
He said inadequate preparation and limited understanding of board documents could also prevent directors from contributing effectively to discussions.
Dr Spio-Garbrah linked the confidence to express dissenting views to childhood experiences, particularly whether parents encouraged children to express their opinions respectfully.
Drawing on his upbringing by teacher parents, he said he was encouraged to disagree with them politely but firmly and explain his decisions.
On his diplomatic assignment, Dr Spio-Garbrah said courage was also necessary in pursuing reparations for Africans and people of African descent over historical injustices.
He said the United Kingdom and France had yet to make the statements of apology Ghana was seeking, while the Netherlands and Germany had done so,
However, reparations should go beyond apologies to address the lasting effects of historical injustices through improvements in education, knowledge systems and mindsets, he said.
Dr Spio-Garbrah also called for greater collaboration among Ghanaian businesses, saying the reluctance of entrepreneurs to pool resources and build larger companies was limiting economic growth and job creation.
Professor Douglas Boateng, Convenor of the summit, said effective boardroom governance was essential to improving institutional performance and advancing Africa’s development.
He said decisions taken in boardrooms influenced the quality of public institutions and services.
“Unless we do it, we’ll have this vicious cycle whereby we’ll be talking and doing presentations and promises and whatnot. It all starts in the Boardroom,” he said.
Prof. Boateng, an international chartered director, industrialist and business strategist, said poor roads and inadequate healthcare affected citizens regardless of their political affiliations, urging leaders to put partisan interests aside in addressing national challenges.
He cited Singapore, South Korea and Rwanda as examples of countries using governance to advance development and called for sustained leadership commitment beyond electoral cycles
The summit, organised by Prof. Boateng in collaboration with the Office of the Chief of Staff and the Labadi Beach Hotel, brought together board members, business leaders, governance professionals, academics and policymakers.
It was held on the theme: “Board Committees: From Oversight to Impact – The Conversations Every Board Must Have,” and featured the launch of Professor Boateng’s book, Practical Perspectives on the Committees of the Board.
The book was launched by Dr Spio-Garbrah and a representative of the Ghana Bar Association.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Eric Appah MarfoÂ
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