The
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), in partnership with the
KSB School of Business and College of Humanities at the Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have launched the ACCA–KSB
Leadership Academy, a structured leadership development programme designed to
equip Ghanaian university students with the professional competencies, ethical
grounding and global outlook required to drive the country's economic
transformation.
The
Academy's pioneer cohort comprises 52 second-year students selected from 15
departments across the university, with deliberate emphasis on academic
excellence and gender balance. The programme is built on four core pillars,
Ethics, Sustainability, Digital Transformation and Corporate Governance,
reflecting both ACCA's global professional standards and Ghana's national
development priorities.
Speaking
at the launch, ACCA West and Central Africa Cluster Head, Norman Williams,
described the initiative as a direct response to the country's evolving
economic realities and the urgent need for a new calibre of leadership. “Today
marks more than the introduction of a new academic initiative. It signals a
deliberate response to Ghana's economic realities and the critical role KNUST
must continue to play in shaping national development,” Mr. Williams said.
He
noted that Ghana faces a complex set of structural challenges, including fiscal
pressures, youth unemployment and the imperative of industrial expansion, even
as significant opportunities emerge through the African Continental Free Trade
Area (AfCFTA), a growing digital economy and an expanding financial services
sector.
According
to the African Development Bank, Africa stands to gain up to US$450 billion in
income by 2035 through full implementation of the AfCFTA, but only if the
continent produces the quality of leadership and institutional capacity needed
to realise those gains. “These opportunities will not translate into progress
without the right kind of leadership. Ghana does not merely need more
graduates; it needs leaders who can think critically, act ethically, manage
complexity and compete globally,” Mr. Williams stated.
The
Academy offers participants direct access to industry experts, seasoned
practitioners and ACCA Fellows, ensuring sustained exposure to real-world
professional challenges alongside the formal curriculum. An integrated
internship pathway provides each participant with a structured route into
ACCA-affiliated professional placements, directly enhancing employability and
career readiness upon graduation.
The
programme's emphasis on employability addresses a persistent structural
challenge in Ghana's labour market. The World Bank estimates that Sub-Saharan
Africa needs to create approximately 12 million new jobs annually to absorb its
growing youth population; a target that requires a new generation of
professionally equipped, ethically grounded and innovation-ready graduates
capable of building and leading viable enterprises.
Pro
Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor David Asamoah, described the launch as a
significant milestone in the university's mandate to produce graduates who are
not only academically excellent but also socially responsible and
professionally prepared. “The establishment of this Leadership Academy reflects
what can be achieved when we are intentional about shaping the future. It
underscores our commitment to developing well-rounded graduates who can
contribute meaningfully to society,” Prof. Asamoah said.
Prof.
Asamoah urged the pioneer cohort to approach the programme with full
commitment, noting that it would equip them with critical professional
competencies, including communication, leadership, critical thinking, public
speaking and sustainability practices, that classroom instruction alone cannot
provide.
Provost
of the KSB School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Charles Ofosu
Marfo, noted that the Academy represented the realisation of a vision first
articulated six years ago to close the gap between academic achievement and
meaningful societal impact. “Leadership is not merely about titles or
positions. We are focused on cultivating purposeful, resilient and
transformative leadership. The future belongs to those who can think critically
and lead effectively,” Prof. Marfo said.
Similarly,
Chief Executive Officer of the country’s leading economic media outlet, the
Business and Financial Times (B&FT), Dr. Godwin Acquaye, addressed
participants virtually. He urged the cohort to prioritise the development of
distinctly human competencies as edging technology, especially artificial
intelligence, continues to reshape the professional landscape. “The skills that
will define your careers are those that cannot be replicated by machines,
critical thinking, ethical judgement, empathy and the ability to lead people
through complexity and uncertainty,” Dr. Acquaye said.
The
ACCA–KSB Leadership Academy is designed to serve as a scalable model for
leadership development across Ghana's tertiary education sphere. Both
institutions have indicated that the outcomes of the pioneer cohort will inform
the programme's evolution and its potential expansion to other universities and
disciplines in subsequent years.
ACCA
ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global
professional accountancy body offering the Chartered Certified Accountant
qualification. With over 252,000 members and 526,000 future members in 180
countries, ACCA advances the accountancy profession by championing ethical,
sustainable business practice and developing highly skilled finance
professionals equipped for a rapidly changing world. In Africa, ACCA works
closely with governments, universities and employers to strengthen professional
capacity and support economic development. For more information, visit
KNUST
KSB School of Business
The
KSB School of Business at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology (KNUST) is one of Ghana's leading business schools, committed to
producing graduates with the technical knowledge, professional skills and
ethical foundation to lead in a competitive global economy. The school offers
undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across a range of business
disciplines and maintains active partnerships with leading professional bodies
and industry organisations.
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