In a time when public confidence in leadership is often undermined by tales of extravagance and mismanagement, Professor Rasford Gyampo, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), is setting the pace for an austere and principled leadership style.
In an exclusive interview with Adomonline.com, Professor Gyampo revealed a series of decisive measures he has implemented to rescue the financially-strained Authority.
“I travel economy class – and so will everyone else,” he declared matter-of-factly. “I may be the only CEO in Ghana who does that today. But it is unthinkable and unethical to indulge in opulence while the institution I lead is bleeding.”
Inheriting an empty purse
Prof. Gyampo assumed office amid a deep financial crisis rooted in broader economic policies that prioritized national obligations over agency liquidity.
Under the Mahama administration, a controversial fiscal decision to consolidate excess funds from government institutions had ripple effects across various agencies, including the GSA.
“The decision to pool institutional funds to meet national commitments, like paying bondholders, was critical,” he acknowledged.
“But it left institutions like ours gasping for air.”
Faced with a financial drought, Gyampo rolled out what he calls “an innovative austerity agenda” to cut costs and re-orient the Authority toward operational efficiency.
The Gyampo doctrine: cost-cutting with conviction
Key elements of this strategy include:
Contract Reviews: Several legacy contracts were terminated or renegotiated, ensuring better value for money and protecting the Authority from overpriced obligations.
Suspension of Incentives: While not ideal, some staff incentives have been paused temporarily to align expenditure with fiscal reality.
Travel Reform: All non-essential foreign travel has been suspended. When travel is approved, every employee, including the CEO himself, is expected to fly economy.
“Why should public officials, especially those presiding over loss-making institutions, live as if they’re royalty?” he queried. “It doesn’t make sense. We must abandon this culture of entitlement.”
The modesty isn’t just performative. “I was offered an old vehicle for official use, which I only drive to and from work. For church, funerals, and weddings, I use my personal car,” he added, underscoring a belief that government property should serve government functions alone.
A new ethos for public leadership
More than a temporary financial fix, Gyampo’s approach is emerging as a new governance ethos—a model of ethical leadership grounded in simplicity and accountability.
But the path has not been without resistance. Accusations recently surfaced suggesting he had purchased a luxury massage chair for his office—an allegation he dismisses as “ignorant propaganda.”
“That claim is not only false but senseless,” he retorted. “Competent propaganda isn’t for little minds. Those leveling such accusations must find a better strategy. If the opposition wants to remain relevant, it must produce a credible leadership that focuses on ideas, not pettiness.”
A man of modest origins and unyielding focus
Gyampo’s leadership style is deeply shaped by his upbringing and his experience as an academic and unionist.
“I come from a very modest background. By the grace of God and through hard work, I was already comfortable before this appointment,” he noted. “But that background and the training I received make it impossible for me to condone waste.”
Far from being partisan, Gyampo sees his role as a national duty—part of a broader vision to “reset Ghana” under President Mahama’s renewed administration.
“The President has shown courage by bringing in people like me, who are not members of his party, to contribute. That shows seriousness. If we succeed in this agenda, Ghana succeeds. And that’s what matters most.”
Looking ahead
While it’s still early in his tenure, Professor Gyampo’s leadership is already turning heads, inspiring hope that the culture of public sector extravagance can be changed.
His blend of humility, policy clarity, and fierce accountability may yet set a new standard—not just for the GSA, but for public administration in Ghana.
“We won’t countenance a sense of entitlement that perpetuates what is wrong,” he said. “We’re here to change the status quo.”
As Ghana watches this unfolding story, one thing is clear: Prof. Gyampo is determined to lead with principle, not perks—and he’s betting that in the long run, that’s what real transformation looks like.