Julius Debrah
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has emphasized the urgent need for board members to approach their roles with boldness, strategic insight, and a deep understanding of their institutions’ mandates. He says governance at the board level must move beyond ceremonial presence and instead focus on impactful leadership that can drive Ghana’s development agenda forward.
Mr. Debrah made the remarks during a courtesy call at the Jubilee House by the convenor and participants of the upcoming second Boardroom Governance Summit, scheduled for October in Accra. The summit seeks to reset the national conversation on boardroom leadership and promote institutional accountability across sectors.
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, the Chief of Staff reaffirmed the government’s support for the summit, describing it as a timely intervention that aligns with the President’s vision to demystify the Presidency and deepen public sector reforms.
“President Mahama believes leadership must be transparent and accessible. That’s why this initiative is so important, because it brings key conversations about accountability, integrity, and leadership right to our national doorstep,” Mr. Debrah said.
He noted that many institutions struggle not because of a lack of vision or policy, but due to weak board-level leadership and a lack of understanding of governance responsibilities.
“We sometimes get too comfortable with routines,” he said. “If board members do not fully understand the power they hold to direct and shape their institutions, then those institutions will crumble under the weight of poor decisions or no decisions at all.”
The Chief of Staff stressed that a board position should not be seen as a symbol of prestige but rather as a position of active stewardship.
“Being on a board isn’t about status, it’s about responsibility. You are the architects of institutional success. The directions you give shape management actions, and ultimately determine whether your organization thrives or fails.”
The upcoming summit is being organized under the leadership of Prof. Douglas Boateng, a renowned governance expert and Pan-Africanist. The event has attracted support from a coalition of professional bodies that have endorsed the need for a national shift in boardroom governance culture.
These institutions include:
- Institute of Directors (IoD) Ghana
- Ghana Bar Association (GBA)
- Ghana Institute of Engineers (GhIE)
- Ghana Institute of Surveyors
- Ghana Institute of Planners
- Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
- Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT)
- Ghana Medical Association (GMA)
These bodies are expected to contribute technical expertise and best practices, while also offering peer learning opportunities for existing and aspiring board members.
Mr. Debrah further encouraged board members and CEOs from across public and private institutions to actively participate in the summit to enhance their governance capacity.
“We all have orientation programmes, but this summit goes beyond that. It is a national space for synergy—for learning from each other, for adopting international best practices, and for rethinking how we lead. The knowledge shared there can change the future of institutions.”
He concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting the summit and its long-term goal of building a more resilient and accountable leadership framework for Ghana.
“On behalf of His Excellency, President Mahama, I want to assure you that we fully support this initiative. Governance must outlive political cycles—it must become part of our national DNA.”
The Boardroom Governance Summit is expected to host directors, CEOs, policymakers, development partners, and academics in discussions aimed at repositioning boardroom governance as a cornerstone of institutional transformation and national development.