Former finance minister Kwabena Duffuor has said Ghana’s national transformation cannot rely on policy measures alone, emphasizing that leadership anchored in character is essential for sustainable development.
In a New Year message marking the start of 2026, Duffuor said the country faced a critical moment that required citizens and leaders to confront moral decline in public life.
“National transformation will not begin in policy alone. It must begin with character,” he said, highlighting concerns over indiscipline, environmental neglect, and the misuse of public trust.
Uphold integrity
Duffuor argued that skills without integrity were insufficient, and integrity without skills was incomplete, calling both “the twin pillars of leadership” necessary for effective governance.
He urged deliberate mentoring of young people to embrace honesty, responsibility, and public-spiritedness as a way of life, rather than slogans.
The former minister stressed that Ghana’s progress required investments in moral and religious values across society.
“We must raise a generation that values truth, keeps its word, respects life and places the public good above private gain,” he said.
Optimism
Despite the challenges, Duffuor expressed optimism, citing Ghana’s history of resilience and renewal.
He said the nation’s founders had built the country through selflessness and long-term vision, and that spirit must guide citizens today.
He also emphasized that renewal was not the responsibility of government alone.
“Each of us has a role to play. When citizens rise to defend values, institutions regain strength. When integrity becomes the standard, corruption loses its grip,” he said.
The former governor of Ghana’s central bank urged unity and collective responsibility in 2026, calling on Ghanaians to act decisively to restore national values and secure a future grounded in integrity, skill, and service.
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