Prof Baah Boateng says strong PPPs are essential for Ghana’s sustainable national growth
Prof William Baah Boateng, Vice Chancellor of Methodist University Ghana, has highlighted the importance of sustainable and well guided public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a central pillar of Ghana’s long term national growth. He made the remarks during a major corporate awards event, indicating that PPPs if properly structured can drive infrastructure, service delivery, job creation and innovation while protecting the public interest.
According to Prof Baah Boateng, partnerships that are built on shared purpose accountability and robust governance frameworks have the potential to become engines for trust and meaningful development. He warned against superficial PPPs that lack transparency or clear objectives, arguing that such arrangements could waste public resources and undermine public confidence.
He elaborated that the private sector brings efficiency, capital and technical know-how while the public sector ensures legitimacy, regulation, and long-term development planning. When both sides collaborate effectively under the right governance structures, the benefits can be transformative. He cited examples where PPPs have delivered critical infrastructure and social services without overstretching limited public budgets.
Prof Baah Boateng also emphasized that accountability must be central to every PPP agreement. He called for independent oversight bodies, regular audits, and performance based contracts that can ensure value for money and positive social outcomes. This kind of structure, he said, would build trust among citizens and partners alike.
He noted that Ghana’s infrastructure score remains below where it could be relative to its peers, and stressed that investing in PPPs is not just a cost-saving measure but a strategic pathway to accelerate development. By leveraging private capital and innovation, the country can build roads, hospitals, schools and utilities more quickly and efficiently than relying on public funds alone.
The Vice Chancellor added that PPPs also offer a platform for technology transfer. Through partnerships, Ghana can tap into global expertise, adapt international best practices, and build local capacity in critical sectors. Over time, this would strengthen the domestic private sector and encourage sustainable entrepreneurship.
Prof Baah Boateng’s call resonated with leaders in business, academia and government present at the event. Some executives applauded his emphasis on responsible partnership, while others stressed the need for policies that balance profitability and public benefit. Civil society actors also supported his position, urging that PPP contracts include social clauses that guarantee community welfare, environmental protection and job creation.
He concluded that no government can single-handedly deliver all the services required for national transformation. Strong PPPs, guided by ethics, shared goals, and clear regulation, are not just useful — they are essential. For him, this is not a temporary fix but a sustainable model for delivering public value and long term national growth.
