The Government of Ghana in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) convened an Executive Leadership Retreat under the distinguished patronage of H.E. John Dramani Mahama from 23^rd to 26^th April 2025 at Aqua Safari Resort Ada.

The Participants:

1. deeply appreciate the presence and active participation of high-level dignitaries including His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama, H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Special Guest of Honor, Professor Oluyemi Osinbajo, former Vice President of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Chairman of the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, Chairman of the NDC, cabinet ministers, ministers, presidential staffers, senior government officials, as well as national and international experts. 

2. acknowledge the high-powered UNDP delegation to the Executive Leadership Programme led by H.E Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa, accompanied by Niloy Banerjee, UNDP Resident Representative of Ghana and other senior members of UNDP at the regional and country levels. 

3. commend UNDP for partnering with the Office of the President to convene the four (4) day Executive Leadership Programme. This is consistent with UNDP’s longstanding partnership with the Government of Ghana and strengthens the mutual realisation of a common aspiration for the growth and development of Ghana.

4. welcome the important and underlying purpose of the Executive Leadership Programme, aimed at facilitating a focused reflection and an informed dialogue on the new government’s immediate agenda, long-term goals for the country, and helping to shape a clear and united path.

5. further welcome the Executive Leadership Programme’s additional focus on equipping Senior Government Officials with enhanced leadership skills, knowledge, and a mindset necessary to lead the transformation and reset agenda of the new NDC Administration in their respective sectors.

6. admit and acknowledge the severe challenges inherited by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama’s administration including an ailing economy, burgeoning youth unemployment, high and unconscionable public debt, coupled with an intensification of climate vulnerabilities and other external challenges.

7. universally acknowledge the serious constraints imposed on Ghana and other African countries resulting from ongoing overseas development assistance cuts, trade and tariff wars, and insecurity from incidents of violent extremism and terrorism, especially in the West African region.

8. reiteratethe Mahama Government’s determination to focus on addressing the challenges confronting the country through unwavering discipline in the implementation of the Reset Agenda.

9. underscore the importance of the theme for the Executive Leadership Programme titled “Re-imagining Leadership in a ‘Reset’ Ghana and further emphasise the collective resolve that the reset agenda of government which forms the basis for which millions of Ghanaians gave an unprecedented endorsement to the Mahama-led administration remains instrumental in restoring the country on the path of sustained economic growth and development. 

10.  assert that government is determined to address the myriad of challenges facing the country, as such rejects a business-as-usual approach in dealing with the problems, and renews its commitment to embrace a new leadership mindset—one that prioritises trust-building, social contract renewal and responsive governance through deliberative dialogue and transformative service delivery.

Recognizing that the challenges of the 21^st century Ghana requires bold initiatives and new approaches, the participants have resolved to:

1. uphold the values of discipline, transparency, and accountability in public life.

2. lead with humility, courage, integrity and purpose, leveraging inner strengths, working in partnership with each other, the private sector, civil society and development partners to deliver transformation.

3. adopt systemic approaches to leadership while leveraging technology to engineer the needed growth and transformation.

4. prioritise inter-ministerial collaboration and coordination instead of siloed approaches to addressing Ghana’s developmental complexities.

5. prioritise People, Planet, Peace, Prosperity and Partnership in the country’s economic transformation. 

6. prioritise nation building and customised leadership approaches that suit the needs of the people and holistically tackle the socio-economic and political challenges facing the country.

7. focus on financing transformation rather than managing poverty, including using pension funds/systems to finance economic transformation among others.

8. exit commodity colonialism that is characterised by export of raw materials and pursue a consistent policy of value addition, industrialization, reduction in import dependence and promotion of exports within the context of the vast opportunities offered by the domestic market, AfCFTA and the ECOWAS Protocols. 

9. commit to increasing self-reliance and achieving independence from donor development logic, pursuing an ambitious development at scale, consolidating an integrated value chain financing, human capital development and the transformation of Ghana’s agriculture through innovation and digitalisation, that is key to the reset agenda. 

10. build trust and create a conducive environment for private sector investment to drive growth by providing a coherent and predictable incentive regime, affordable credit, access to land and appropriate infrastructure to achieve supply chain efficiency, radically improve port and customs procedures, broadening and deepening of enterprise access to domestic, regional and international markets.

11. engage in strategic partnerships, determined not to be passive recipients of charity but co-creators of wealth for national development by powering the growth of the private sector in partnership with the state to reset Ghana 

12. establish strong, uncompromised and incorruptible institutions as a catalyst for the private sector to invest.

13. leverage on the country’s scientifically determined comparative advantages to create jobs, improve household incomes, build prosperity and inclusive growth for all. 

14. invest massively in building a digital economy and the skills required in order to take full advantage of its transformative impact on productivity, growth and prosperity in the context of ensuring constant and sustainable energy supply.

15. prioritise collaboration and co-creation for development and strengthen regional and continental integration.

16. undertake measures to position Ghana to benefit from contemporary trade regimes.

17. intensify intra-African trade as well as diversify, decarbonize and digitize (3Ds).

18. promote good neigbourliness, enhance a cross-border approach in addressing challenges, defend multilateralism, promote peace and advance the African Agenda.

19. undertake measures to position Ghana to benefit from contemporary trade regimes.

20. abide by the dictates of the laws of Ghana, eschew opulence, exhibit humility, develop an ethic of continuous learning, and at all times be responsive to the needs of the people

21. recognize decentralization as an important governance sector through which the objective of national development will be be realised.

22. commit to adhering to the code of conduct for public officials and the strict requirements of the Public Procurement Law and other relevant laws.

23. address labour related issues including workers remuneration in line with Section 98(G) of Labour Act,2003 Act 651and; 

24. demonstrate competence that seeks to understand and articulate national values to the world in a manner that garners solidarity and the required investment and support for Ghana’s national development.

Furthermore, the Government of Ghana and UNDP have resolved to explore and deepen cooperation in achieving a ‘reset’ Ghana by having a follow-up action of the Executive Leadership Programme to take stock of progress made, challenges encountered and explore ways to tackle issues identified. 

The follow-up action would entail a peer review of various sectors of government in a year’s time with a broader stocktaking with UNDP in the secondyear of the Mahama Administration. Broadly affirm their commitment to deepening cooperation in the following areas:

1. sustainable, resilient and inclusive growth 

2. transformative governance and peace building

3. resilient ecosystems to facilitate green processing and waste recovery

4. participation of women and young people in leadership and political governance. 

5. public sector reforms.

6. effective and innovative private sector engagement by the public sector.

7. technologically oriented development; and 

8. sustainable investments 

9. innovative and sustainable financing for development. 

We acknowledge the sincere determination and resolve among participants and stakeholders to cooperate and adopt proactive measures aimed at addressing the root causes of the challenges facing Ghana and facilitate the realization of the reset agenda to build the Ghana we want together.

Download Communique here.