The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has laid bare a philosophy of leadership grounded in austerity, modesty, and a deliberate rejection of extravagance.
Professor Ransford Yaw Gyampo told Joy News amid growing public concern about the perks and privileges enjoyed by public officials, said he uses what he described as his “commonsensical approach” to leadership — one that includes driving his personal car to funerals and weddings.
“I was offered an old vehicle which I use only to and from work,” Prof Gyampo said. “I drive my own car to church, funerals, weddings and to all social gatherings. Government vehicles must only be used for government business.”
This unorthodox approach to public office, especially at the CEO level, he stated, comes against the backdrop of financial constraints at the Ghana Shippers Authority.
According to Gyampo, the Authority became cash-strapped after government swept excess funds from various agencies to meet sovereign obligations.
“Through this initiative, the financial resources and monies saved by the Ghana Shippers Authority were swept away,” he explained.
“So as CEO, I had to offer an innovative response to cut expenditure to ensure that the organisation survives.”
Among his first actions was to cancel and renegotiate contracts, suspend staff allowances, and halt all foreign travel not directly tied to the Authority’s core operations.
But perhaps most striking is his personal example, which includes flying economy class on official international assignments.
“I believe I am the only CEO in Ghana at the moment who travels abroad with an economy class ticket,” he said.
“I do so because the current financial position of my organisation makes it unethical and unthinkable for me to be opulent.”
He added, “CEOs and managers of organizations that run at a loss must have no business enjoying the largess that goes with their positions.”
Prof. Gyampo’s rejection of privilege is shaped by his identity as a teacher, unionist, and a man of modest upbringing.
“Though by the grace of God and through hard work, I was living comfortably even before I was appointed as CEO, my modest background and the kind of training I got have tended to shape what I do.”
He also took a swipe at critics who accused him of misusing public funds.
“That’s why I described as senseless and ignorant propaganda, the claim that I had gone to buy a massaging chair in my office in spite of all that I am doing to save money and cut costs,” he said.
“Competent and effective propaganda is not for little minds.”
Asserting his commitment to national service above partisan interests, Prof Gyampo praised President Mahama for appointing non-party individuals like himself and vowed to help “reset Ghana.”
“If we succeed, Ghana will succeed,” he said. “And insha Allah, we would succeed, given the kind of commonsensical approach we are adopting in handling simple problems. We won’t countenance people’s sense of entitlement to perpetuate what is wrong. We will change the status quo.”
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