By Samuel Lartey(Prof)
As Ghana celebrates its 68th Independence anniversary on March 6, 2025, the nation stands at a crossroads, reflecting on the progress made and the hurdles that remain.
Jim Rohn’s The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle provides a compelling framework to evaluate Ghanaian leadership across top, middle, and lower levels, assessing how these five principles, Philosophy, Attitude, Activity, Results, and Lifestyle, shape the country’s trajectory.
- Leadership philosophy: The bedrock of national progress
Jim Rohn asserts that personal philosophy determines destiny. Similarly, national philosophy dictates Ghana’s economic, social, and political landscape. From the dawn of independence in 1957, Ghana’s leadership philosophy has evolved from Kwame Nkrumah’s socialist-driven industrialization agenda to the capitalist, market-friendly policies of subsequent governments.
At the top level, successive presidents, including Jerry Rawlings (1981–2001), John Kufuor (2001–2009), and Nana Akufo-Addo (2017–2025), have influenced national philosophy with varying degrees of success. Ghana’s commitment to democracy, evident in eight consecutive peaceful elections, exemplifies a strong governance philosophy. However, challenges persist, such as corruption, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and policy inconsistencies.
At the middle level, ministers, business executives, and regional leaders shape policy implementation. The introduction of the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda in 2019 reflected a shift in economic philosophy towards self-reliance. However, despite strong rhetoric, Ghana’s external debt reached $58.6 billion by 2024, highlighting a disconnect between philosophy and fiscal discipline.
At the grassroots level, local chiefs, assembly members, and civil society leaders often dictate the pace of community development. While traditional rulers preserve cultural values, their role in modern governance remains debated. The proliferation of illegal mining (“galamsey”) and land disputes underscores gaps in ethical leadership at lower levels.
- Attitude: The leadership mindset gap
Rohn highlights that attitude determines response to challenges. Ghana’s post-independence history is marked by contrasting leadership attitudes. Nkrumah’s ambitious industrial projects, such as the Akosombo Dam (1965), reflected a proactive attitude. However, excessive state control led to economic stagnation by the 1970s.
The transition to multi-party democracy in 1992 demonstrated a positive shift in national attitude, fostering economic liberalization. Yet, the attitude of complacency in addressing youth unemployment remains a pressing issue. By 2024, Ghana’s youth unemployment rate stood at 19.7%, a challenge exacerbated by leadership inertia at the middle level.
Grassroots leadership, particularly in local governance, often showcases resilience. Community-driven projects such as the $30 million Keta Sea Defense Wall (2023) demonstrate proactive leadership. However, the ‘winner-takes-all’ political culture has discouraged bipartisan cooperation, hindering sustainable development.
- Activity: Execution deficiencies in Ghanaian leadership
Jim Rohn underscores that success requires continuous action. Ghana’s economic transformation efforts have been hampered by inconsistent policies. The One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative, launched in 2017, aimed to establish 260 factories. By 2024, only 126 were operational, reflecting implementation bottlenecks.
In contrast, Ghana’s banking sector cleanup (2017–2020) demonstrated decisive action, leading to a more resilient financial system. The intervention, costing GH¢21 billion, stabilized the sector but also resulted in job losses and public discontent.
At the grassroots level, market women, artisans, and SMEs remain the backbone of Ghana’s informal economy, contributing 70% to GDP. However, limited access to credit and weak institutional support hinder their full potential. Leadership at this level must focus on practical solutions, such as microfinance accessibility and skills training.
- Results: Evaluating Ghana’s leadership output
Results are the ultimate measure of leadership effectiveness. Ghana’s economic growth averaged 4.3% between 2017 and 2024, yet inflation peaked at 40.1% in October 2023. While macroeconomic indicators suggest progress, the rising cost of living indicates a gap between policy intent and citizen experience.
Socially, Ghana’s Free SHS policy, introduced in 2017, has increased enrollment but strained educational infrastructure. The health sector has seen mixed results, with projects like the Agenda 111 hospitals experiencing delays.
At the community level, the success of local agricultural initiatives, such as Planting for Food and Jobs, demonstrates the power of grassroots leadership in improving food security. However, post-harvest losses remain high, emphasizing the need for better logistics and storage infrastructure.
- Lifestyle: The ultimate reflection of leadership success
Rohn argues that true success is reflected in a fulfilling lifestyle. For Ghana, national well-being extends beyond GDP growth to quality of life. While urban centers like Accra and Kumasi have seen infrastructural expansion, rural-urban disparities persist.
Leadership at all levels must focus on sustainable living conditions. As of 2024, 28% of Ghanaians still lack access to clean water. Affordable housing remains a challenge, with the national housing deficit exceeding 1.8 million units.
At the grassroots level, cultural preservation through festivals, music, and arts remains strong. However, moral decadence, evidenced by rising cyber fraud cases, points to a need for ethical leadership at all levels.
Conclusion
As Ghana marks 68 years of independence, the application of Jim Rohn’s five principles offers a roadmap for enhanced leadership. A refined national philosophy, a proactive leadership attitude, disciplined execution, measurable results, and an improved lifestyle can drive sustainable progress.
Ghanaian leaders, whether at the top, middle, or grassroots, must embrace these principles to navigate the next phase of national development successfully. With collective effort, Ghana can transition from a developing nation to a beacon of leadership excellence in Africa.
