Former minister says economic reforms alone will fail without integrity, accountability, and stronger governance systems.
Former Minister of State and governance expert Akwasi Opong-Fosu says Ghana’s reset agenda will struggle to succeed unless it is backed by a deeper change in leadership values and public sector mindset.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview on governance and national development, Opong-Fosu argued that Ghana’s challenges are no longer just about policy direction, but about the thinking and values driving leadership.
“Ghana does not have a shortage of policies. What we lack is a consistent purpose behind them. If we reset the economy but keep the old mindset, we will get the same outcomes with new slogans.”
According to him, the country must restore core principles that once shaped public service and national leadership.
He identified stewardship, accountability, integrity, ethical standards, and social justice as the values that must return to the centre of governance.
“When public office becomes a route to self-serving privilege and wealth accumulation, institutions decay and citizens lose trust.”
He said leadership should be measured not by short-term handouts, but by the long-term value and institutions left behind.
“As a leader you are valued for the national assets you leave behind during your stewardship and not the handouts you distribute today.”
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Leadership beyond personalities
Opong-Fosu also called for a shift in how leadership itself is understood.
In his view, the old political culture treats public office as personal power, while modern governance should focus on building systems that continue to function beyond individual leaders.
“The old mindset sees public office as personalising power. The new mindset must see leadership as building systems that work without you.”
He stressed that speeches alone will not change behaviour unless institutions reward integrity and accountability.
“Culture changes when incentives change. Behaviour follows incentives.”
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Governance and resource control
On governance, Opong-Fosu argued for stronger institutions built around inclusiveness, transparency, and control over Ghana’s natural resources.
He said economic sovereignty should go beyond ownership of raw materials and include control over value creation and production.
“Natural resources must be managed so that value addition happens here to create jobs and increase wealth.”
“That is what we mean by sovereignty. Not just territorial ownership but control over the value chain.”
He further stressed that citizens must be able to track how public resources are used and judge leaders based on development outcomes rather than political giveaways.
“Inclusiveness means citizens can see where the money goes and judge leaders on the assets built, not occasional handouts distributed.”
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A broader national debate
His comments come at a time when discussions around Ghana’s economic recovery and governance reforms continue to dominate national conversation.
While much attention has focused on fiscal policies and economic restructuring, Opong-Fosu’s intervention shifts part of the conversation toward leadership culture and institutional credibility.
For him, resetting the country will require more than economic adjustments.
It will require changing the values and incentives that shape governance itself.
