24/10/2025
Public Statement by Public-Private Integrity (PPI): Reclaiming the Republic—A Call for Transparency in the Disposal of State Assets in Ghana
As Public-Private Integrity (PPI) prepares to establish its office in Accra, we do so with a firm commitment to truth, accountability, and the restoration of public trust. Ghana’s democratic journey has been marked by resilience, but also by painful silences, especially around the disposal of state assets meant to serve generations.
One such silence surrounds the divestiture of the Nsawam Cannery, a legacy factory built under President Kwame Nkrumah’s industrial vision. Its acquisition by Caridem Development Company, closely linked to the then First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, remains a case study in opacity. The Auditor-General’s report revealed that Caridem used a government; guaranteed loan to acquire the factory, leaving the state with a debt of over ¢9 billion (old cedis). Yet no restitution followed. No enforcement. No closure.
Even after the passing of Nana Konadu in October 2025, the company’s status remains unclear. The cannery itself stands as a quiet monument to the erosion of public accountability. Communities near Nsawam continue to raise concerns about land grabs and broken promises. And the broader divestiture process; meant to streamline and empower, has instead become a shadowed corridor where public wealth disappears without trace.
This is not just about one factory. It is about the soul of our republic.
It is about the pattern of dispossession; where state properties are sold under questionable terms, often to politically connected entities, without public oversight or benefit. It is about the Auditor-General’s voice being dismissed, and the people’s right to know being denied.
PPI believes that reform must begin with truth. We call for:
1. A full public audit of past divestitures, including the Nsawam Cannery and other strategic assets.
2. A national framework for ethical divestiture, grounded in transparency, equity, and public interest.
3. Protection and empowerment of whistleblowers, journalists, and civil society actors who expose corruption.
4. A renewed commitment by state institutions to uphold the constitutional mandate of accountability; without fear or favor.
As we open our doors in Accra, we pledge to stand with communities, advocates, and reformers who believe that Ghana’s future must be built not on silence, but on integrity.
Let the Nsawam Cannery become a symbol—not of what was lost, but of what must be reclaimed.
Public-Private Integrity (PPI)
Accra Office, Oyarifa, Greater Accra Region Tel:+233 (0)54577953
Email: [email protected]