As the nation prepares to celebrate its 69th independence anniversary in
2026, there is a call for a shift from conversation to action and a renewed
national culture of discipline, accountability and respect for time. This call
was made during Episode 18 of the Transformational Leadership Concepts’
Timekeeping Dialogue Series.
Held virtually and moderated by Communications for Development Advocate,
Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, the session brought together Ibrahim Kwame Asante,
Founder of Significant International Training Systems (SITS); Odelia Ntiamoah,
Media Strategist; and Naval Captain Kwame Yirenkyi for a candid discussion on
better timekeeping under the theme, “Raising the Bar in 2026: Leadership
Lessons on Time and Discipline.”
The conversation concluded with an announcement of plans for an in-person
Timekeeping Conference in March, aimed at deepening national conversations on
productivity, leadership discipline, and time management in Ghana.
The discussion challenged leaders, professionals, and institutions to
rethink how time is used in leadership, business, and public life. Opening the
session, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu emphasised that Ghana’s development challenge
is not only about resources but about how time is valued and managed. “If we
want different outcomes in 2026, we must first change our relationship with
time and purpose,” she noted.
Addressing Ghana’s productivity challenges, from traffic congestion to
weak institutional systems, Ibrahim Kwame Asante called for radical ownership
of time at personal, organisational, and national levels. He urged leaders to
move away from activity-driven work to outcome-based performance, stressing
that time discipline must become non-negotiable if Ghana is to compete for
investment and global opportunities.
“We cannot keep defending lateness with traffic or infrastructure alone,”
Ibrahim said. “Nations that grow do so because discipline over time is embedded
in their culture and institutions.”
Odelia shared practical insights into how she transformed a Ghanaian
media organisation, explaining that productivity improved when staff were
trained, mindsets shifted, and performance targets were clearly defined. She
highlighted the role of digital tools, accountability systems, and leadership
examples in changing how teams value time.
Sharing his perspective, Naval Captain Kwame Yirenkyi drew on his
military experience to explain how discipline is enforced through clearly
written rules and strict timelines. He also said that there are consequences
for non-compliance “In the military, if you are late, you are out,” he stated.
The panel drew parallels between military precision and corporate
performance, agreeing that Ghana needed stronger performance governance
systems, clearer KPIs, and leaders willing to enforce standards. They further
called for embedding time consciousness as a national culture, arguing that
productivity, capital inflows, and national competitiveness are directly linked
to how a country manages time.
Participants were encouraged to stop normalising delays, audit their
daily routines, and apply human intelligence to planning and execution.
Practical tips shared included using commute time productively, setting
disciplined morning routines, systemising workdays, and balancing empathy with
accountability in managing people.
About the TLC Timekeeping Initiative
The Timekeeping initiative is a Transformational Leadership Concepts
initiative aimed at creating a better Timekeeping Culture in Ghana by
addressing chronic lateness and the lack of respect for time and timekeeping.
The National Dialogue and Timekeeping Initiative is targeted at policymakers,
media, legislators, event organisers, corporate leaders, politicians, teachers,
professionals, the youth, civil society, and behavioural change agencies.
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