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A Professor of Strategy at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Prof. Kwaku Appiah-Adu, has underscored the need for public and private sectors to collaborate to drive sustainable growth in the country.
A Professor of Strategy at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Prof. Kwaku Appiah-Adu, has underscored the need for public and private sectors to collaborate to drive sustainable growth in the country.
He explained that the dynamic interplay between government reform and private sector innovation was fundamental for national transformation in the 21st century.
“No government, however visionary, can single-handedly deliver inclusive development; neither can the private sector thrive sustainably without an enabling state that provides policy clarity, stability and safeguards public interest,” he stated.
He made the case for public-private partnerships (PPPs) at the Ghana Corporate Executives’ Awards organised by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana, where he was honoured with the Legacy Lifetime Achievement Award.
His presentation was on the theme: “The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in National Development”.
Prof. Appiah-Adu, who has served the country as a technocrat, strategist, and policy advisor for the past two decades, classified PPPs as essential in modern governance, describing them as more than mere contractual agreements for infrastructure financing, adding, “They embody a philosophy of collaboration”.
He further explained how PPPs could leverage private sector creativity while utilising the regulatory oversight and developmental vision of the state.
He stated that, especially in Ghana, these partnerships offered practical pathways to bridge gaps in sectors such as energy, transportation, health care and digital infrastructure.
He, however, warned that the promise of PPPs was not guaranteed, saying, “We have seen partnerships falter due to weak foundations, inadequate accountability mechanisms, and misaligned incentives”.
He, therefore, stressed the need for sound legal and regulatory frameworks to ensure clarity in roles, responsibilities and risk allocatiåon when forming these partnerships.
He cited effective risk management and community engagement as vital components of successful PPPs.
“Development is most enduring when it is participatory,” Prof. Appiah-Adu said, stressing that public understanding and ownership of projects could enhance sustainability.
He provided real-world examples, including the Energy Sector Recovery Programme and Ghana’s digital transformation initiatives, showcasing how structured collaborations could yield significant benefits.
These efforts, he said, underlined the importance of aligning government intent with private sector capabilities to foster impactful, scalable and sustainable development.
Looking ahead, Prof. Appiah-Adu said he envisioned a Ghana empowered by green energy, broadband connectivity and resilient urban infrastructure, driven by a culture of genuine collaboration.
He implored all stakeholders—the government, private sector, academia and civil society—to play their part in this shared journey towards sustainable and inclusive growth.
He reminded the attendees of the paramount importance of collaboration in national development, stating, “Our shared progress depends not on competition between sectors but on their cooperation”.
