Citizens, not just leaders, must drive national transformation – Ofosu-Dorte

David Ofosu-Dorte, founder and senior partner at AB and David Africa, has a message for Ghanaians. He believes citizens should not rely solely on political leaders for national change.

Speaking at the JoyNews and Amalgam of Professional Bodies Speaker Series, he emphasized shared responsibility. Building a prosperous nation is a task for all citizens.

He pointed out that depending only on leaders creates a cycle of dependency. This mindset disempowers ordinary Ghanaians and hinders real progress.

“We often view political leaders as solely responsible for societal transformation,” he said on April 28. “But we all share this responsibility if we want change.”

Mr. Ofosu-Dorte traced this mentality to historical experiences like chieftaincy systems, slavery, and colonization. These events fostered leader worship and citizen passivity over generations.

He criticized the current political environment in Ghana. Multi-party democracy has intensified divisions instead of empowering citizens. Personal loyalties now overshadow collective national interests.

“Multi-party democracy was meant to liberate us,” he explained. “Instead, it encourages alignment with parties for personal gain.” This weakens the engaged citizenry needed for national progress.

Ofosu-Dorte called for a shift in mindset among citizens. He urged them to participate actively in nation-building beyond just voting or party loyalty.

He advocated returning to ambition, innovation, and hard work seen in major projects from the 1960s.

"We must revive the 'can-do' spirit among our people," he stated. "Nation-building requires more than politics; it needs collective action and sacrifice."