By Edward Dankwah
Kumasi, April. 14, GNA – The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, in partnership with the KSB School of Business and College of Humanities at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, has launched the ACCA–KSB Leadership Academy to equip students with skills for national development.
The structured leadership development programme is designed to provide Ghanaian University students with professional competencies, ethical grounding and a global outlook required to drive economic transformation.
The Academy’s pioneer cohort comprises 52 second-year students drawn from 15 departments across the university, with a focus on academic excellence and gender balance.
The programme is built on four core pillars: ethics, sustainability, digital transformation, and corporate governance, reflecting both global professional standards and Ghana’s development priorities.
Mr Norman Williams, West and Central Africa Cluster Head of ACCA, said the initiative responded to Ghana’s evolving economic realities and the need for a new generation of leadership.
He noted that the country faced structural challenges such as fiscal pressures and youth unemployment, while opportunities existed through the African Continental Free Trade Area, digital economy growth, and expansion in financial services.
Mr Williams said Africa could gain significantly from the AfCFTA but stressed that such opportunities required strong leadership and institutional capacity to be realised.
He explained that the Academy would expose students to industry experts, seasoned professionals, and ACCA Fellows, while offering internship pathways to enhance employability.
Professor David Asamoah, Pro Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, described the initiative as a milestone in the university’s mission to produce well-rounded graduates.
He said the programme would equip students with practical skills such as leadership, communication, critical thinking, and sustainability practices.
Professor Charles Ofosu Marfo, Provost of the KSB School of Humanities and Social Sciences, said the Academy would help bridge the gap between academic achievement and societal impact.
He said there was the need to cultivate purposeful and transformative leadership among students.
Dr Godwin Acquaye, Chief Executive Officer of the Business and Financial Times, urged participants to develop human-centred skills such as critical thinking, ethical judgement and leadership in an era shaped by artificial intelligence.
The ACCA–KSB Leadership Academy is expected to serve as a model for leadership development across tertiary institutions in Ghana, with potential for expansion in the coming years.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei