The country's roadmap to a sustainable, inclusive and transformative development demands a mutual collaboration between the private and public sector, Professor of Strategy - Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Professor Kwaku Appiah-Adu, has affirmed.
He highlighted this during his speech as the guess speaker for the 10th Ghana Corporate Executives' Awards organised by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana in Accra, while calling for a renewed national commitment to Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as engines of economic progress.
"For more than two decades, I have had the privilege of serving my country in diverse capacities -- as a technocrat, strategist, and policy advisor -- navigating the delicate intersection between government reform and private sector dynamism. Through this experience, one lesson has remained clear: the transformation of nations in the 21st Century demands a symbiotic relationship between the public and private spheres," he noted.
The event was themed: "The Role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Corporate Governance and Economic Development".
He further stressed that no government, regardless of how visionary, can single-handedly deliver inclusive development; neither can the private sector thrive sustainably without an enabling state that provides policy clarity, ensures stability, and safeguards the public interest.
"The nexus of these two forces -- when built on trust, transparency, and shared purpose -- forms the bedrock of enduring prosperity," he stressed.
PPPs as Catalysts for Modern Governance
Prof. Appiah-Adu further explained that PPPs are not merely contractual arrangements for financing infrastructure but allow government to leverage private-sector innovation, efficiency, and capital -- while maintaining regulatory oversight and public-interest safeguards.
For emerging economies such as Ghana, he said, PPPs provide a practical route to bridge the vast gap between national aspirations and the limits of public budgets.
On sectors where PPPs can accelerate development at a scale government alone cannot achieve, he mentioned energy, transport, healthcare, urban development, and digital infrastructure.
"They transform government from being the sole provider of public goods to becoming an enabler and facilitator of innovation," he emphasised.
However, the Professor cautioned that while PPPs offers significant prospects, many have faltered due to weak foundations, poor contract design, design, limited institutional capacity, political discontinuity, and misaligned incentives.
"I have witnessed how even the most ambitious initiatives can falter when accountability mechanisms are inadequate, when public institutions lack the technical expertise to negotiate effectively, or when political transitions disrupt continuity," he recounted.
Call for strong legal & institutional frameworks
Prof. also proposed a predictable and transparent legal structures for PPPs; a competitive and impartial procurement processes; credible dispute-resolution systems; institutional capacity to design, evaluate, and monitor partnerships; and a digital systems for real-time project monitoring.
He further stressed that framework alone cannot guarantee success therefore the need to train civil servants in financial modelling, project appraisal, performance-based contracting and risk assessment.
Risk Allocation
Prof. Appiah-Adu also underscored the need for a balanced risk allocation - he proposed construction risks for the private sector and Policy and regulatory risks for the government sector.
Untapped potential across the economy
The Professor of Strategy, further highlighted transport and logistics (modernised ports, rehabilitated rail systems, efficient trade corridors), and healthcare and education (improved access through technology-led service delivery) as key sectors that PPPs could be leveraged for economic development -- Including Urban infrastructure and housing, waste and environmental management and special economic zones and industrial parks.
Leadership, trust and integrity
Beyond technical qualifications, the Professor also emphasised on values: "Partnerships do not only thrive on contracts but flourish character as well.
He encouraged that public sectors demonstrate transparency, professionalism, and accountability while the public sector also bring innovation ethical conduct, and long-term commitment.
Prof. Appiah-Adu concluded with a call to action:
"Our shared progress depends not on competition between sectors but on their cooperation."
The 10th anniversary of the Ghana Corporate Executives' Awards celebrated outstanding executives whose innovation and leadership continue to influence Ghana's development trajectory.
Professor Kwaku Appiah-Adu, an eminent Professor of Strategy and Policy and a leading management consultant, was named the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana.
His recognition underscores his enduring influence in shaping corporate strategy and governance in the country, and his pivotal role in promoting innovation and sustainable development.
The Award recognises individuals whose careers and contributions have had a lasting and significant impact on the country's corporate sector.
It also celebrates visionary leadership, strategic influence, and transformational achievements across multiple industries over three decades of professional service.