The Founder and Senior Partner of AB and David Africa, David Ofosu-Dorte has called on Ghana’s political leaders to shift their focus from personal gains to meaningful development for the people.

Delivering a keynote address at the Swedru Conversations, he challenged the current political leadership model, urging leaders to prioritise progress over power.

Mr Ofosu-Dorte traced Ghana’s leadership evolution from traditional chieftaincy to modern-day political governance, highlighting how leadership has shaped the nation.

He criticised leaders who merely occupy positions without driving real change, stating, “Leadership simply means to me, somebody who makes things better than they met it. That’s my simple definition of leadership. If you dont believe that, then essentially you are just a position occupant.”

He noted that political progress is often hindered by those who benefit from outdated systems, those with innovative ideas who fail to act, and the masses who resist change out of fear or loyalty.

“I have postulated, and I tweeted about this….. that there are three enemies to the future. The first enemy are those who benefit from old systems, and because they benefit from it, they don’t want new systems and new innovation to come. The second enemy are those who, even though they have new ideas about new systems, neither put them out nor implement it, and feel lazy to implement it. They are the most dangerous of the three enemies. The third enemy are the masses who rise to the defence of those who keep the old system and who are the very people who made them powerless,” he said.

He urged leaders to confront these obstacles with boldness and a genuine commitment to national development.

“If they come saying that they can solve our problems and they don’t t solve it, then we must blame them,” he asserted.

“I lead an organisation…… and I take the blame when I make mistakes. So I believe that leaders should take the blame when they do make mistakes, and they should take their success when they actually succeed.”

Mr Ofosu-Dorte also questioned the blind reliance on private sector-led growth, arguing that state-owned enterprises, when managed effectively, could play a crucial role in national development.

He called for a more balanced economic strategy that ensures sustainable progress.

He stressed the need for unity, collaboration, and leadership that puts the people first.

“Politics is just too important to leave it to the politicians alone,” he remarked.

“So much as we all cannot go in, it is very important, because whatever they do affects us all, and that is the reason why we must continue making our comments known at each point in time that we can afford to.”