Policy think tank IMANI Africa has formally petitioned President John Dramani Mahama over what it calls a growing and systemic pattern of political interference in Ghana’s insurance sector, warning that contract decisions are increasingly being shaped by political directives rather than merit.

The petition, presented by IMANI founder Franklin Cudjoe during a civil society meeting at the Presidency, follows criticism from business leader Sir Sam Jonah, who last week cautioned that political meddling in insurance operations has become “more systemic” and “more dangerous.”

Speaking at a stakeholder forum, Sir Sam Jonah said the integrity of Ghana’s insurance market is under threat.

“There is a growing and deeply troubling pattern of political and socio-economic interference in the conduct of insurance business in Ghana,” he said, as reported by MyJoyOnline. He cited instances in which state-linked portfolios were cancelled or reassigned through “personal access and political leverage” rather than through competitive tendering.

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In its petition, IMANI outlined observations across multiple insurance agencies, including unexplained shifts in renewal behaviour, reduced participation of private insurers in state-backed placements, and growing concerns about regulatory neutrality.

Mr Cudjoe noted that firms such as GLICO General Insurance have already submitted formal complaints, warning of market distortion.

“These developments in our view… suggest that policy encouragement may, in practice, be evolving into operational direction,” he wrote.

Franklin Cudjoe reminded the President of a similar issue in 2014 when the Ghana Insurers Association petitioned over politically influenced placements.

He said President Mahama’s swift intervention at the time, which reversed the directive and reaffirmed merit-based procurement, gives him both “credibility and institutional memory” to address the current concerns.