Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has called on board members across Ghana to embrace their roles as strategic leaders rather than ceremonial figureheads, warning that institutions risk collapse without clear direction and oversight from their governing boards.
Speaking at the Presidency during a courtesy call by the Boardroom Governance Institute, Mr. Debrah emphasized that board membership must be rooted in responsibility, not prestige.
“If you are made members of a board, it’s not just the prestige of being there, but seeing yourself as the originators of the success of the institution. If members of a particular board are not familiar with that emboldened power to give direction, the institution will crumple.”
Mr. Debrah’s remarks align with President Mahama’s broader “Reset Ghana” agenda, which calls for renewed commitment to excellence, accountability, and institutional reform.
“As a nation, once in a while, we have to remind ourselves what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong. President Mahama intends that all the things that we’ve been doing, where we feel we are relaxing, we should reinvigorate.”
The Chief of Staff also highlighted the importance of continuous learning and capacity building for board members.
He encouraged participation in national summits and orientation programs designed to share global best practices and foster effective governance.
“We encourage a lot of people to take part in this national summit where synergies will be drawn, good lessons will be learned, and international good practices shared”.
The Boardroom Governance Institute is expected to play a key role in organizing these initiatives, bringing together board chairs, CEOs, regulators, and governance experts to strengthen leadership across sectors.