Former UT Bank founder and ex-CEO, Captain (Rtd) Prince Kofi Amoabeng, has stressed that effective leadership is not about keeping people comfortable, but about enforcing accountability even when it requires taking tough decisions against close associates.
Speaking on Joy News’ AM Show, Prince Amoabeng said nations only make progress when leaders are prepared to sanction poor performance at the highest levels of governance.
“You must be a bit crazy to say, ‘This is the direction we are going,’ and if you are not doing it, there must be sanctions even if it means sacking,” he stated.
His remarks formed part of a broader discussion on leadership, governance, and institutional strength, with particular reference to President John Mahama’s leadership style.
Prince Amoabeng described President Mahama as humane, humble, and respectful, noting that he relates easily with people and genuinely cares about their welfare.
“Without any doubt, he is quite humane and has feelings for people. He takes the general road, has humility, and truly means well,” he said.
While acknowledging improvements in key economic indicators, including inflation trends and the performance of the cedi, he said public optimism remains cautious due to the country’s recent economic challenges.
According to him, Ghana’s deeper challenge goes beyond personalities or economic statistics and lies in rebuilding strong, independent institutions.
He singled out the judiciary as critical to national development, stressing that it must be empowered to operate without interference.
“Whether we succeed or not depends largely on the kind of judiciary we build,” Prince Amoabeng stated.
He warned that weak judicial systems undermine business confidence and discourage investment.
“Without a credible system to resolve disputes fairly and efficiently, businesses cannot succeed and investors will stay away,” he added.
On leadership at the presidential level, Prince Amoabeng said heads of state are ultimately judged by their ability to demand performance and enforce discipline within their administrations.
He expressed concern about President Mahama’s willingness to take hard decisions against underperforming appointees, noting that the desire to please people can weaken authority.
“The only thing I am not sure about is that he loves to see people happy and wants to please people,” he said.
He cautioned that such an approach, if not balanced with firm accountability, could undermine effective governance.
“With responsibility must come accountability,” he stressed.
Drawing lessons from countries such as Singapore, Rwanda, Japan, and China, Prince Amoabeng said successful nations combine compassion for citizens with strict enforcement of rules.
“Sanction always helps,” he said, adding that discipline is not cruelty but a necessary tool for making systems work.
For Prince Amoabeng, leadership built on affection alone cannot deliver progress—accountability must come first.
