Accra: The Government, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has convened an executive leadership retreat at Ada in the Greater Accra Region to drive transformational development in Ghana.
According to Ghana News Agency, the retreat, held from 23rd to 26th April, 2025, was attended by ministers and their deputies, senior advisors, international and national resource persons, private sector players, and representatives of the African Development Bank (AfDB). The event was organized against the backdrop of the recent democratic transition in the country and the Constitution of a new Cabinet, under the theme: ‘Re-imagining Leadership in a ‘Reset’ Ghana.’
The retreat provided participants with a safe, co-curated environment to engage in real-world scenarios, regional and global trends, and leadership principles rooted in empathy, systems thinking, and collaborative governance. President John Dramani Mahama emphasized the need for a shift in leadership approach, stating, “Ghana stands at a crossroads, faced with diverse challenges. We must lead differently, think differently and act differently, as the true measure of our success is the lives we touch and the legacy we leave behind.”
President Mahama also highlighted the role of development partners, particularly the UNDP, in uniting various stakeholders, including the private sector and cross-party government entities, to agree on a singular development agenda that persists irrespective of political shifts. Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan echoed the call for focused leadership and emphasized education’s role in technological and societal advancement.
Mr. Ahunna Eziakonwa, the UNDP Assistant Administrator, underscored the importance of collaborative stakeholder aspirations as a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable development in Ghana. He encouraged enhanced government-stakeholder cooperation to generate fresh perspectives and actionable strategies, pledging UNDP’s commitment to partnering with Ghana in this journey toward reimagined leadership.