Board membership is about direction, not just prestige – Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has urged board members of institutions to understand that their role goes beyond mere prestige. He says board membership is fundamentally about providing clear direction and oversight, warning that a lack of strategic guidance could cause institutions to collapse.

Speaking at the Presidency during a courtesy call by the Boardroom Governance Institute, Mr. Debrah stressed the importance of boards in shaping the success of institutions.

“Making people understand that if you are made a member of a board, it’s not just the prestige of being there, but seeing yourself as the originators of the success of the institution. Because what management usually does is based on the directions given by the board. And so if members of a particular board are not so familiar with that emboldened power to give direction to the institutions, the institution will crumple,” he said.

He further reflected on the nation’s need for self-assessment and revitalization, underscoring President Mahama’s call for renewed commitment.

As a nation, once in a while, we have to remind ourselves what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong. President Mahama intends that all the things that we’ve been doing, where we feel we are relaxing, we should reinvigorate them,” Mr. Debrah stated.

Highlighting ongoing efforts, he encouraged board members to participate actively in capacity-building initiatives.

“We are mindful that various institutions are having orientation programs for their board members. But we encourage a lot of people to take part in this national summit where synergies will be drawn, where good lessons will be learned, where others will share international good practices which will enable you to run your board effectively,” he added.