Franklin Cudjoe Expresses Confidence in Mahama Over Insurance Sector Petition

1. A recent civil society engagement with President John Dramani Mahama has been widely described as one of the most impactful in recent years, with participants praising the depth and inclusiveness of the discussions.
2. The forum brought together voices from across the country, including participants from rural communities. Many women stood out during the engagement, raising thought-provoking questions on key national issues such as healthcare, education, illegal mining, and harmful cultural practices like witchcraft accusations.
3. One of the key moments of the encounter was the President’s candid response to concerns raised in an investigative report by The Fourth Estate. The report flagged procurement practices under the government’s Big Push programme, particularly the heavy reliance on sole sourcing, which critics say could lead to inflated contract costs.
4. President Mahama acknowledged the concerns, noting that while sole sourcing is permitted under certain conditions within Ghana’s procurement laws, competitive and transparent tender processes remain the preferred approach to ensure value for money.
5. Further analysis by policy think tanks IMANI Africa and Africa Centre for Energy Policy revealed that nearly 95 percent of about 1,000 contracts reviewed over a nine-year period failed to meet basic procurement standards.
6. In response, the President has called for a full inquiry into the matter and pledged reforms aimed at prioritising competitive bidding in the award of public contracts.
7. Observers say the move is a step in the right direction but stress the need for a comprehensive overhaul of procurement systems across the public sector to eliminate entrenched practices that undermine transparency and accountability.
8. Concerns about political interference have also been raised in Ghana’s insurance sector. Prominent businessman Sam Jonah recently warned of what he described as a growing and troubling trend affecting the industry. According to him, political and socio-economic pressures are increasingly influencing how insurance business is conducted, shifting what was once occasional interference into a more systemic and dangerous pattern. He further alleged that contracts are being cancelled or reassigned based on political considerations rather than performance, with state insurance portfolios often moved through personal connections and influence instead of competitive and professional processes. These developments, analysts say, underscore the urgency for sweeping reforms to protect the integrity of public procurement and ensure fairness across all sectors of the economy.

9.Policy analyst Franklin Cudjoe has formally petitioned President John Dramani Mahama, raising concerns about procurement practices and market confidence within Ghana’s insurance sector.

In the petition, titled “Safeguarding Procurement Integrity, Market Confidence, and National Risk Governance in Ghana’s Insurance Sector,” Cudjoe outlined a number of troubling trends observed by IMANI Africa across several insurance institutions.

According to the think tank, there have been noticeable shifts in contract renewal patterns without clear evidence of competitive tendering. It also pointed to a decline in the participation of non-state insurers, particularly outside the State Insurance Company (SIC), in major state-related insurance placements.

The petition further highlighted a growing perception among industry players that some procurement outcomes are predetermined, raising questions about transparency and fairness in the process.

Cudjoe also referenced formal complaints from market participants, including GLICO General Insurance, which have expressed concerns over potential market distortions and the neutrality of regulators.

He argued that these developments suggest that what may have begun as policy guidance could be evolving into direct operational control, with implications for competition and investor confidence.

Drawing on precedent, Cudjoe reminded the President that similar concerns were raised in 2014 by the Ghana Insurers Association through the National Insurance Commission regarding the allocation of state insurance business.

At the time, he noted, President Mahama intervened and reversed the directive, reaffirming that insurance placements should be based on merit, value for money, and a competitive process.

Cudjoe said the re-emergence of these issues highlights deeper structural challenges within the system, but also presents an opportunity for decisive action, given the President’s past experience and institutional knowledge.

He expressed confidence that the President would give the concerns due attention, indicating that further details on the matter would be made public after the Easter holidays.