The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has urged leaders of state institutions to draw lessons from the transformation of the National Investment Bank (NIB) to restore public confidence in state-owned enterprises.
He said despite the bank’s challenges over the years, NIB had been transformed and was performing well due to the discipline instilled by its Managing Director, Chief Dr Doliwura Zakaria, over the past year.
Mr Bagbin made the remarks at the launch of a book titled Rebuilding Confidence, Restoring Strength, authored by Chief Dr Zakaria, in Accra on Tuesday.
According to the Speaker, many Ghanaians had lost confidence in state institutions because of their inefficiency despite the resources provided by government.
“State institutions have become drains into which government pour resources which flow into the ocean,” Mr Bagbin said.
He added: “If every leader of every state enterprise rendered their account as candidly as the book demonstrates, we would have healthier state organisations serving the good people of Ghana with fidelity while making profits that further enhance the economic health of the country.”
Mr Bagbin commended Chief Dr Zakaria for the leadership that had transformed NIB, noting that many state institutions facing challenges such as under-capitalisation had yet to recover.
“Yes, the author received his re-capitalisation. But he reckoned that if you pour money into an institution with broken governance, the money only leads to irretrievable abyss. This is what happened with earlier liquidity into this same bank,” he said.
He attributed the bank’s turnaround to Chief Dr Zakaria’s character, competence and care, and recommended the book to leaders of state institutions seeking organisational transformation.
Reviewing the book, the Board Chairman of Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Professor Joshua Alabi, described it as “a thoughtful, sincere and well-tracked account of leadership under difficult circumstances.”
He said the book drew on the author’s life experiences and practical approach to organisational renewal, and was written in simple language for easy understanding.
Prof. Alabi noted that it also offered hope, demonstrated effective leadership and underscored the importance of governance, accountability, discipline and respect in decision-making.
Chief Dr Zakaria said taking full responsibility for the bank had helped increase its profit from US$3.1 million in 2024 to US$344 million in 2025.
He said NIB’s total assets had reached US$14.9 billion, with positive capital of US$1.64 billion and a capital adequacy ratio of 48.1 per cent.
While acknowledging the bank’s progress, he stressed that staff must continue working together to achieve total transformation.
He reminded leaders that they were stewards entrusted with institutions that must be transformed for national development.
The Paramount Chief of the Shai Traditional Area and chairperson of the launch, Drolor Bosso Adamtey I, underscored the need for the country to celebrate people such as Chief Dr Zakaria and ensure that their contributions to national development were preserved for future generations.
The launch was attended by the Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah; the Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), Nana Oye Bampoe-Addo; parliamentarians, ministers of state, religious leaders and the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
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