Ghana’s Most Influential Corporate Leader of the Decade 2025 and Chief Executive Officer of MGA Consulting Ghana Limited, Michael Abbiw, says gaps in leadership capacity across public institutions continue to affect the effective delivery of government policies in Ghana.
Speaking in an interview on Bottomline on Metro TV, Michael Abbiw said holding political office does not automatically equip individuals with the technical and managerial skills required to run complex institutions.
“One goes into government, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the person is fully equipped,” he said.
According to him, while political leadership plays a critical role in governance, professional competence is essential for translating policy ideas into measurable outcomes.
Mr Abbiw said the challenge is not limited to the executive arm of government but extends to several public institutions, including Parliament.
“We need to look at capacity building across board,” he said, stressing that continuous training is necessary to improve decision-making and implementation.
He explained that many leadership challenges stem from inadequate understanding of systems, data and performance monitoring tools.
Mr Abbiw argued that government must deliberately create space for professionals to support political leadership, especially in areas that require specialised expertise.
“We think that marketing has a key role to play,” he said, noting that professionals can help government institutions communicate policies more effectively and build public trust.
According to him, technical input from professionals should not be seen as political interference but as a means of strengthening governance outcomes.
Using national development initiatives as examples, Mr Abbiw said strong ideas often fail because of weak execution structures.
He noted that policies must be supported by clear frameworks, accountability systems and measurable targets to succeed.
“We need to be more deliberate and more intentional about what we want to do,” he said.
Mr Abbiw said strengthening institutions through skills development and professional management would improve service delivery and economic growth.
He added that governance should focus less on personalities and more on systems that work regardless of who is in office.
According to him, improving leadership competence would help Ghana achieve consistency in policy implementation and long-term national development.
