Politics

Virtual University

Trust and Consistency, Key to Ghana’s Progress, Says David Ofosu-Dorte

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Founder and Executive Chairman of AB & David Africa, David Ofosu-Dorte, says Ghana’s development depends on trust, consistency, and unity rather than constant shifts in policy direction. Speaking on Springboard, Your Virtual University with Rev. Albert Ocran, Mr. Ofosu-Dorte emphasized that national progress thrives when leaders build and sustain public confidence through their actions. He explained that economic growth is driven more by hope and trust than by statistics. “The entire economy is about hope and confidence. When people are hopeful, they invest; when they lose hope, they withdraw. That’s when economies decline,” he said. Mr. Ofosu-Dorte stressed that political leaders must act consistently and transparently to sustain hope among citizens. “Trust cannot be commanded. It is acquired through the consistency of your actions. When there is no trust, the vision perishes,” he noted. He argued that Ghana’s challenge is not the absence of vision but the failure to remain committed to it. “We don’t fail because we lack vision. Every Ghanaian leader has had one. We fail because we abandon the vision when challenges arise,” he said. On economic reforms, the business strategist urged leaders to view the government’s 24-hour economy policy as a productivity initiative rather than a political slogan. “The less productive a country is, the more demand outstrips supply. If we focus on productivity, we can drive growth faster. The 24-hour economy should be a productivity program,” he advised. Mr. Ofosu-Dorte also called for greater unity in national discourse, saying politics often undermines collective progress. “Unity is more important than gold. If you cannot rally people around the vision, forget the vision. Disunity destroys the mission,” he cautioned. He recommended that major national policies be implemented with bipartisan support to ensure continuity across governments. “Bring together leaders of both parties, technocrats, and traditional authorities on long-term projects. Once the nation owns the policy, no new government will abandon it,” he said. 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 Springboard Channel (YouTube) and Joy FM, and at 9 PM on Joy News TV. Springboard Road Show Foundation Marketing and Communications

Virtual University

Over Monetized Politics is Creating a ‘Santa Claus Democracy’ Says Strategic Advisor, Yaw Nsarkoh

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Strategic adviser and director, Yaw Nsarkoh, has warned that Ghana’s democracy risks degenerating into what he calls a “Santa Claus democracy,” where the poor remain trapped in poverty while politicians use money and tokens to buy influence. Speaking on Springboard, Your Virtual University with Rev. Albert Ocran, Mr. Nsarkoh described the current political order as over monetized and increasingly excluding the mass of citizens from true development. “Today in your village, somebody born into a mud house, can they become Rev. Albert Ocran in one lifetime? If they cannot, then what we are saying is that we have built a Santa Claus democracy in which the poor remain poor. Their poor children will keep giving birth to the poor,” he said. He explained that  Santa Claus democracy is characterized by over monetized politics, where citizens are reduced to tokens at election time, and by an over monitored governance system that has become transactional rather than transformational. Citing Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate in literature., Mr. Nsarkoh said Africa’s version of democracy has been reduced to “a public auction for the highest bidder.” Beyond critiquing the system, Mr. Nsarkoh offered a single prescription for Ghana’s future: education. “Educate, educate, educate. Knowledge is the primary productive force. Embrace it. If we get it, we will liberate our society,” he declared. He stressed that economic achievements, such as reduced inflation, mean little if they do not translate into better schools, good food, a green environment, and a cultural space that encourages critical thinking. “Are there more schools? Do people have good food to eat? Have we created a cultural environment where people can think? Our society is drowning in uncollected garbage. Is this a society in which you can imagine the future?” he asked. Mr. Nsarkoh concluded that development must be measured not by economic figures but by the opportunities and dignity it provides citizens. About Springboard, Your Virtual UniversitySpringboard, Your Virtual University, is a weekly motivational and personal development broadcast hosted by Rev. Albert Ocran. It airs every Sunday at 7 PM on Springboard Channel (YouTube) and Joy FM, and at 9 PM on Joy News TV. The Thinkathon series brought together thought leaders from various fields to explore the power of ideas in shaping society. By Faustina Yeboah

Virtual University

Moral Leadership Starts with Example, Not Words, Says Prof. Justice Bawole

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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 UniversitySpringboard, 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