The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has challenged Ghanaian youth to reject corruption, environmental destruction and unethical wealth as they prepare to assume leadership roles in society in the near future.
He urged students and young professionals to pursue success with integrity, humility and responsibility, saying Ghana’s future depended on ethical leadership.
Addressing students at the Ghana Business Leaders ‘Conclave organised by the University of Professional Studies, Accra in Accra, the Asantehene cautioned the youth against admiring wealth and power without questioning how they were acquired.
“Do not admire wealth without asking how it was made. Do not admire power without asking how it was used,” he stated.
He added, “Do not admire success without asking who suffered for it.”
The Asantehene said young people must refuse to normalise corruption and environmental degradation, stressing that the country needed principled and responsible future leaders.
“Your generation must refuse to normalize corruption. You must refuse to celebrate environmental destruction,” he stressed.
He further advised the youth not to measure greatness solely by material possessions and public recognition.
“Do not measure greatness only by cars, houses, titles and public applause. Measure greatness also by honesty, service, discipline and the courage to do right when wrongdoing is profitable,” he said.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II encouraged students to combine ambition with ethical conduct and remain grounded in Ghanaian values and traditions.
“You must be modern, but rooted, ambitious, but ethical, confident, but humble, successful and yet responsible,” he said.
He explained that Ghana needed a new generation of leaders who would build businesses, create jobs, protect the environment and serve the nation faithfully.
The Asantehene also warned that prosperity achieved without ethics would not endure.
“Business without integrity is dangerous, leadership without humility is arrogance and prosperity without ethics is fragile,” he stated.
He urged the youth to become agents of national transformation and contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.
“When that day comes, Ghana will not ask only what degree you obtained. Ghana will ask what kind of person you became,” he said.
The Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Dr K.K. Sarpong, in his welcome address reiterated the importance of integrity and principled leadership in sustaining businesses and strengthening institutions.
Dr Sarpong said nations thrived on the integrity of their institutions, while institutions equally depended on ethical leadership for survival.
“Nations are built on the integrity of their institutions, and institutions are sustained by the integrity of their leaders,” he stated.
He said sustainable enterprises could only flourish under principled leadership and ethical governance.
“In the business world, there is no doubt that sustainable enterprises depend on principled leadership,” he added.
Dr Sarpong described the theme of the conclave, “Leading with Integrity: Negotiation, Mediation and Ethical Governance for Business Sustainability,” as timely and relevant.
He further encouraged business leaders to share knowledge and experiences to strengthen leadership excellence.
Quoting author and poet Maya Angelou, he said, “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”
Dr Sarpong also praised the leadership of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, describing his stewardship as a model of principled negotiation, mediation and progressive governance.
“His Majesty’s decades of stewardship reflect principled negotiation, careful mediation and progressive traditional governance,” he said.
He added that participants at the conclave stood to benefit immensely from the wisdom and leadership of the Asantehene.
The Board Chairman of GCB Bank, Prof Joshua Alabi on his part reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting enterprise development and partnerships that promote innovation and national growth.
He said the bank remained committed to supporting businesses, SMEs and public institutions through financial services and digital transformation initiatives.
“For over 70 years, GCB Bank has made significant contributions to businesses, public institutions, SMEs and the general public,” he stated.
He added that the bank’s extensive branch network and customer-focused strategy positioned it strongly to support economic transformation.
“With our wide national footprint, strong digital transformation agenda and commitment to customer excellence, we continue to position ourselves as a bank that supports Ghanaian dreams and drives economic growth,” it added.
He also commended UPSA for strengthening collaboration between academia and industry.
“Partnerships between universities and corporate institutions are essential in building the next generation of ethical, innovative and globally competitive industries,” it said.
Prof Alabi further pledged the Banks’s continued support for initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and national development.
“GCB Bank will continue to support initiatives that inspire ideas, promote enterprise and contribute to Ghana’s development,” he added.
