African business doyen Sir Sam Jonah used his victory platform at the Exclusive Men of the Year (EMY) Africa Awards 2025 to deliver a challenging assessment of African leadership, asserting that the continent’s inability to harness its immense human capital stems from a fundamental lack of courage and robust systems.
Accepting the coveted Ultimate Man of the Year Award on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), Sir Sam Jonah emphasised that while Africa possesses abundant talent, it often fails to recognise and nurture it early enough to drive sustainable development and economic growth.
The Missing Courage: Talent, Systems, and Leadership
In the most pivotal part of his speech, the corporate governance expert highlighted the discrepancy between Africa’s demographic advantage—a young, rapidly growing population—and its lagging ability to turn that potential into global success.
“Yet I remain convinced of one thing: Africa doesn’t lack talent. What we sometimes lack is the courage to recognise that talent early and the system to nurture that talent consistently.”
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This statement, coming from a leader who steered Ashanti Goldfields Corporation (AGC) to a historic listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), served as a poignant call to action for governments and corporate entities to overhaul mentorship and development frameworks.
A Defining Moment for Leadership and Values
Sir Sam Jonah acknowledged the current climate of instability, stressing that leadership is being severely tested across all sectors of society.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are going through a defining moment for leadership globally and here at home, our institutions are being tested. Our values are being tested. The patience and aspirations of the youth are being tested.”
He emphasised that true leadership transcends ceremonial status and must be redefined by its commitment to service and creating opportunities for successors.
“Leadership, ladies and gentlemen, through leadership, it’s not about grandeur, it’s not about titles. It is about service. It’s about responsibility. It’s about creating pathways so that the next generation can run faster, soar higher, and dream bigger than we could ever do.”
Excellence as a Habit: A Message to the Youth
Addressing the young entrepreneurs and professionals in the audience, Sir Sam Jonah provided a practical philosophy for success, focusing on discipline and integrity over waiting for “perfect conditions”.
“If my journey has taught me anything at all, it is that excellence is not an episode. Excellence is a habit. Excellence is a discipline. It is a standard we must insist upon daily, even when no one is watching…”
He strongly advised the youth to prioritise integrity, stating:
“If you have an idea, start. If you have a dream, protect it, and if you want to lead, lead first with integrity. For in a world overflowing with noise, it is character that speaks the loudest.”
The mogul humbly credited his success to a network of support, acknowledging:
“I am the beneficiary of mentors who expanded my ambition, colleagues who matched my commitment and ordinary, hard-working Ghanaians whose toil forms the bedrock of every enterprise I’ve been privileged to lead.”
The EMY Africa Award ceremony, attended by over 100 influential guests, concluded with Sir Sam Jonah’s speech, reinforcing the notion that African progress requires a courageous commitment to institutional support and rigorous ethical standards.
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