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.
