Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, has called on Ghanaians to embrace ethical leadership and prioritize service to society.
Speaking at the British Council in Accra on Thursday, August 15 to mark the 25th annual lecture organized by Prempeh College, Rev Dr, Joyce Aryee observed that true leadership transcends titles and positions of power.
She defined leadership as the ability to inspire, guide, and make decisions that prioritize the common good over individual gain.
“Leadership and service are the twin pillars that hold up the progress of any nation, any continent, and indeed, the world.”
“True leadership is about influence, integrity, and the unwavering commitment to bettering the lives of those around us,” she said.
She called on Ghana to continue its legacy of strong leadership, urging the nation to adapt to the challenges of the present by fostering leaders who are innovative, inclusive, and globally minded.
The celebration was themed around leadership and service in Ghana, Africa, and globally.
She reflected on the history of Prempeh College and its evolving relationship with women and noted the significance of being the first woman to deliver the lecture, emphasizing that this moment symbolized progress in a traditionally male-dominated space.
She said, “It is a great honour and yet a very humbling task. Even so, I gladly accept to rise to the task! As Charles Wesley says, ‘It’s a charge that I have to keep,’ she said.
Dr. Aryee identified corruption, political polarization, weak institutional frameworks, and economic constraints as significant barriers to effective leadership in Ghana,
According to her, one of the most significant challenges to leadership in Ghana is corruption and stressed that the misuse of public resources and the lack of accountability among some leaders at all levels undermine public trust and erode the effectiveness of governance.
She also underscored the issue of political partisanship, noting that excessive loyalty to party lines often obstructs national interest and hampers progress.
“Partisanship can lead to a lack of national unity, making it difficult for leaders to rally the country around common goals,” she observed.
Dr. Joyce Aryee emphasized the need for ethical leadership grounded in transparency, fairness, and accountability. She called for the integration of ethics training in leadership development programs across all sectors.
“Outstanding leadership is built on a foundation of ethics and integrity. Ethical leadership means making decisions that are transparent, fair, and in the best interest of the people we serve,” she declared
The future of Ghana, according to Dr. Aryee, lies in the hands of the youth. She urged the nation to invest in education, mentorship, and opportunities for young people to assume leadership roles.
“The future of our society depends on our ability to cultivate and empower the next generation of leaders. We must create spaces for young people to contribute to national and local decision-making processes, ensuring that their voices are heard and their ideas are valued,” she stated.
Dr. Aryee also stressed the importance of inclusive leadership, advocating for the involvement of women, youth, and marginalized groups in decision-making processes.
She stated that Africa’s strength lies in its diversity hence a need to ensure that all voices are heard, especially those that have historically been marginalized.
Diversity, she said, is not just a moral imperative; it is a source of strength and innovation.
Dr. Aryee called on all Ghanaians to reflect on their roles in society and to lead and serve with integrity, courage, compassion, and a vision for a better future.
She charged Ghanaian, African and world leaders to serve selflessly, act with wisdom, and lead with compassion and stressed that together humanity can rise to the challenge and leave a legacy of outstanding leadership and service for generations to come.