President John Mahama has charged his Ministers and appointees to work hard for change.
“Ghana needs more than just competent administrators. We need bold reformers, ministers who lead to say so. And that is what leadership demands at this moment,” the President stated in his opening remarks at the maiden Four-Day Ministerial Executive Leadership Programme Retreat at Ada in the Greater Accra Region,
“My brothers and sisters, the problems we face are real. But so are the solutions. We can rebuild our economy. We can create jobs. We can restore faith in governance. But we must commit to the hard work of change. You were not appointed to occupy space. You were appointed to solve problems.”
The President noted that Ghanaians were faced with daunting economic realities, record level of public debt, a distressed economy over the reliance on raw commodity exports, rising unemployment, especially amongst the nation’s youthful population, and a widespread erosion of public confidence in their democracy and their institutions.
“I make this claim not to point fingers or to lament about the situation. And that is not why we are here. We are here because Ghanaians chose hope, devoted for leadership that is bold, humble, honest, and unafraid to take the tough decisions that will transform our country,” President Mahama said.
“I stand before you not to make promises, but to issue a challenge, and that challenge begins with each of us in this room.
“We cannot solve the problems of today with the methods of yesterday. We must lead differently. We must think differently. And we must act differently.”
President Mahama reiterated that the business-as-usual approach would not work, saying, “Indeed, it is dead, and we must bury it once and for all.”
He noted that the Retreat with its theme “Re-Imagining Leadership in a Reset Ghana”, was more than symbolic.
“It is actually a call to action. We’re not here simply to orient Ministers. We’re here to shape a collective mindset, a shared vision for leadership that is people-centered, that is innovative, transparent, and that is transformational,” he stated.
The President reminded the Ministers of the social contract they had entered into with the people of Ghana.
He said the people of Ghana expects the Government to deliver results on its electoral promises to them.
The President, who is serving his second and final term reiterated that this was the legacy term of his Presidency.
President Maham said: “I intend to make it count. I intend for it to matter. And I expect that every member of this administration will do the same. We must work with a sense of urgency.
“Our young people are tired of waiting interminably. Our farmers, our workers, our entrepreneurs, especially our women and youth, want to see policies that work for them. They want fairness. They want opportunity. They want to live in dignity and prosperity. Indeed, they are not asking for handouts. They are asking to be given a fair shot. And let’s give them just that.”
President Mahama told the Ministers that the task before them required leadership that was empathetic, that was disciplined and accountable, leadership that was not defined by titles, but by service, that was not defined by slogans, but by substance.
“And so I issue this challenge to each of you to lead your sectors with vision and integrity, to champion innovation, make decisions based on facts and data and not on guesswork,” he said.
The President charged the Ministers to spend public funds wisely and judiciously, and to reject opulence.
“And never forget, your first duty is to the people of Ghana and not to your own political survivor, not to the applause you will get, and not to your personal gain.”
The President, in offering a word of hope, stated that: “We are not alone in this journey. Ghana is a country of immense potential. We have a resilient population, a rich natural resource base, a growing digital ecosystem, and a proud history of leadership on the continent.”
“If we leverage our strengths, if we work in partnership with the private sector, with civil society, and with our development partners, we can transform this nation.”
President Mahama said the Retreat marks a defining moment and that it was not a formality but a foundational step in rethinking the future of governance, leadership, and development in the country.
He thanked the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its continued partnership with Ghana and for its instrumental role in making Retreat possible.
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who was the guest speaker at the event urged President Mahama to invest more in Ghana’s educational sector as part of efforts to accelerate the nation’s socioeconomic development.
“If we must move Africa forward, then Ghana must move forward.”
GNA