Accra: The second edition of the National Boardroom Governance Summit has concluded with a call for African board leaders to embrace bold, ethical, and inclusive governance to sustain institutional growth and public trust. Convened by Professor Douglas Boateng, the summit, held on October 14, 2025, at the Labadi Beach Hotel, brought together more than 800 participants from diverse backgrounds. It included Board Chairpersons, CEOs, policymakers, regulators, and governance experts, on the theme: 'Daring to be Different: The Role of the Chairperson in Effective Boardroom Governance.'
According to Ghana News Agency, delivering the keynote address, Mr. Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff at the Office of The President, urged Chairpersons of Governing Boards to lead with courage, fairness, and unwavering ethics to help drive sustainable economic growth and national stability. He highlighted the role of effective boardroom governance in 'translating national strategies into tangible results.'
'Sound boardroom governance determines whether strategy becomes success or another shelved ambition,' the Chief of Staff stated. 'When boards are transparent, accountable, and professionally run, capital becomes confident, jobs multiply, and institutions grow resilient. Weak governance, however, invites inefficiency, politicisation, and public mistrust.'
He emphasised the government's commitment to strengthening accountability and transparency through initiatives such as the 'Reset Agenda' and the Government Accountability Series, which ensure that sector ministers publicly report on policies and progress. He said the initiatives intended to build trust and integrity in governance, adding that 'true accountability must be nurtured within the culture of leadership itself.'
Professor Douglas Boateng, Africa's first-ever Professor for Industrialisation and Supply Chain Governance, tasked Chairpersons of governing boards to move beyond routine compliance and lead with 'conscience, and service to the greater good.' 'The seat of the Chairperson is not a furniture, it is a promise made to the people we meet today and those we may never meet especially the children who will inherit the output of our decisions,' he stated.
Other speakers included Mr. Alex Apau Dadey, Executive Chairman of KGL Group, Mr. Stephane Abass Miezan, President of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCC), and Chief Alhassan Andani, Executive Chairman of LVS Africa. They reiterated accountability, effective communication, operational independence, and other factors as essential elements for effective boardroom governance.
The National Boardroom Governance Summit is an annual platform convened by Professor Douglas Boateng to advance the culture of ethical governance, leadership accountability, and sustainable business growth across Africa. It aims to foster learning, dialogue, and peer exchange among current and aspiring board leaders.
