Prof. Justice Bawole, the former Dean of the University of Ghana Business School, says authentic leadership is not about giving orders but living in a way that others can follow. According to him, people watch a leader’s actions more than they listen to their words, and lasting influence comes from setting an example, not issuing constant instructions.
Speaking on Springboard, Your Virtual University, with Rev. Albert Ocran as part of the ongoing Thinkathon: The Power of Ideas to Shape Society series, Prof. Bawole urged the nation to shift its focus from solely targeting wrongdoers to promoting a culture that showcases and rewards good conduct.
“Many people are living right, protecting what they are given, and not destroying others. Unfortunately, we hardly talk about them,” he said. “We have saturated the environment with a toxic narrative of corruption, and good people have gone into hibernation. How do we model young people into becoming white when all we show them is red?”
Prof. Bawole argued that altering Ghana’s moral climate demands more than sporadic punishments. He advocated for a continuous process of civic education to rekindle the national conscience.
He also proposed three key interventions: conducting moral and ethical audits for public sector leaders, consistently celebrating good people in the public eye, and forming bonds with like-minded individuals who can offer moral support in challenging environments.
Drawing on his leadership journey, Prof. Bawole emphasized that influence stems more from setting an example than from issuing instructions. “People watch what you do more than what you say. If they cannot find an alibi in you, they will try to do the right things, at least when you are around,” he noted.
He added that leadership demands firm personal conviction and moral discipline. “If I enter politics and I change, then it is me who changed, not the politics. Leaders have to lead and not be led.”
About Springboard, Your Virtual University
Springboard, Your Virtual University, is a weekly motivational and personal development broadcast hosted by Rev. Albert Ocran. It airs every Sunday at 7 PM on Springboardzone (YouTube) and Joy FM, and at 9 PM on Joy News TV. The ongoing Thinkathon series brings together thinkers and leaders from various fields to explore the power of ideas in shaping society.
By Faustina Yeboah