Introduction

Favorable economic conditions may create an environment for the success or failure of a

political regime. But a critical factor determining the success of a particular political regime is

leadership.

The previous fifty years have seen broad global research in the field of leadership. It is not

astonishing that there has been such a staggering concentration from specialists since leadership

issues are essential for organizational achievement (Kumar, 2007). Without key and successful

leadership, it is troublesome for individuals from organizations to support gainfulness,

profitability, and a competitive advantage (Lussier and Achua, 2007). As of late, leadership styles

have turned into an essential point of concentration in the field of management, and numerous

social scientists consider leadership style as a critical variable in affecting how individuals in an

organization work (Schriesheim, Scandura & Wu, 2009). In this way, leadership style has

likewise been found as an imperative indicator in the performance of an organization (Bass et al.,

2003). Similar to an organization, a country cannot function properly without leaders and Ghana

as a nation is no exemption. Ghana became independent as a nation on 6 March 1957.Since

independence there has been 14 Political leaders known as either head of state or presidents.

These presidents have ruled or governed Ghana under different governments and different

leadership styles. This Paper focuses on identifying the leadership style used by political leaders

of Ghana and state how their leadership style has impacted Ghana as a nation citing examples

where necessary.

Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was a Ghanaian politician, political theorist, and revolutionary who was born

on September 21, 1909 and died on April 27, 1972. He was Ghana's first Prime Minister and

President, leading the country to independence from Britain in 1957.Even though Dr Kwame

Nkrumah was elected democratically, Nkrumah led an authoritarian regime in Ghana, as he

repressed political opposition and conducted elections that were not free and fair. In 1964, a

constitutional amendment made Ghana a one-party state, with Nkrumah as president for life of

both the nation and its party. Although Dr Kwame Nkrumah was elected democratically, He lead

autocratically. When evaluating Nkrumah's political journey and his impact on Ghana's political

freedom, it is not wrong to claim that Kwame Nkrumah was a servant-leader in the early phases

of the battle for political independence, where he promoted self-government-immediately . 

However, after becoming the Gold Coast's first democratically elected leader, his passage of

legislation such as the Avoidance of Discrimination Act of 1957 and the Preventive Detention

Act (PDA) of 1958 suggested authoritarian leadership in his government. By 1964, Nkrumah had

become a constitutional dictator after passing legislation making Ghana a one-party state.

Jerry John Rawling-

Jerry John Rawlings (22 June 1947 – 12 November 2020) was a Ghanaian military officer and

politician who governed the country briefly in 1979, then again from 1981 until 2001. He

commanded a military junta until 1992, after which he was democratically elected President of

Ghana for two years.

Jerry John Rawlings ruled Ghana Autocratically even after he was democratically elected in

1992.His autocratic leadership style was always visible during his Democracy tenure. As

documented in the book; The Rawlings Factor, J.J. stated he was responsible for the coup

decision and that citizens need to be put on track. Leadership is about being responsible. It is not
about making excuses and passing on blames. Every leader must be able to speak his mind and

defend what he or she believes. Hypocritical leaders always look for several ways to say the truth

and, in the end, truth is lost from their words. J.J. was that he was an “in-charge leader”. As an “I

am in-charge leader”, JJ Rawlings got people working while he called the shots.

Rawlings' leadership was a mixture of populism and authoritarianism, sometimes marked by

controversial pronouncements. He had the capacity to pull crowds and appealed to the ordinary

man on the streets (Shillington,1992). According to Prof. Ali Mazrui as cited in Agyeman-Duah

(2006), the supreme achievement of Rawlings was his remarkable transition from military

despotism to a peaceful democratic succession" (P. xili).

Also, in response to a question as to whether he regarded himself as a visionary leader, he

responded unequivocally "yes". At the risk of sounding immodest, he said, "Ghana would not

have been brought out of the political abyss of 1981 without a visionary leader" (Adedeji, 2001,

p. 20). Besides the drawbacks in the area of human rights abuse, corruption, and media phobia

relation, Mr. Rawlings is seen as a visionary leader.

Again, his charisma and won him the support of the populace. No wonder many writers such as

(Krause,1987; Shillington, 1992; Adedeji, 2001) describe him as a populist.

According to Shillington (1992), Rawlings seized the rare opportunity of guiding the affairs of

his country; saw it through several political and economic transitions in the 1980s and 1990s;

alienated political and social groups. by employing authoritarian means; obtained financial aid

from institutional donors to implement the various recovery programmes: entrenched an

economy that is growing through long-term structural adjustment; and sustained a democracy

that is not only a work-in-progress but an institutionalized political system.

Although some may argue differently, there is little question that Rawlings left a legacy in which

Ghanaians as a people and society have the enviable chance to enjoy the advantages of systemic

development in an ever-changing global, political, and economic context.

Moreover, throughout his president, Rawlings introduced some simplicity to the office and

trumpeted anti-corruption concepts wrapped in statements like probity, justice, and

accountability.

Thus, the leadership journey of Rawlings could well be described as starting from a servant-

leader, where he stood for the interests of the masses and worked closely with those at the

grassroots, to an authoritarian leader and finally to a democratic leader.

John Agyekum Kuffuor

John Agyekum Kufuor was President of the Republic of Ghana from 2001–2009 and

Chairperson of the African Union from 2007 to 2008. A passionate advocate for the African

private sector, President Kufuor declared a golden age of business during his presidency and

championed one of the most successful private sector booms in Ghana’s history.

Kufuor represented a new beginning in Ghana. He was the first Ghanaian President of the

twenty-first century, the first of the new millennium, and he introduced new ideals for nation-

building and new vigor for growth. Because of his peaceful and unruffled demeanor, he is known

as the "gentle giant." His liberal beliefs, as well as his overall poise, demeanor, and public

speaking, gave some respect, nobility, and dignity to the presidency.

Kufuor had a good connection with the business community and the media. No surprise he

announced in his re-election sessional speech to parliament that 2004 will be a "business-friendly

year." Based on the framework for analysis, it is not unreasonable to conclude that Mr. Kufuor's

leadership style was essentially transformational, advocating policies that were aware of the

needy and putting in place social interventions that aided the poor and underprivileged in society.

Furthermore, he received great honors for his foreign policy, having obtained the largest financial

help in Ghana's history - the Millennium Development Fund. Economic-wise, his government

was able to stabilize the macro economy and had moderate achievements on human right issues

(Agyeman-Duah, 2006).

John Evans Fiifi Attah Mills

John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills (21 July 1944 – 24 July 2012) was a Ghanaian politician and legal

scholar who served as President of Ghana from 2009 until his death in 2012

In his article entitled, 'Leadership style of President John Atta-Mills', Dr. William Addai observed

that Mills ability to solve problems in a reactive and team-oriented manner as well as his ability

to be unconstructive and avoid confrontations makes him stand out as a real team player (Addal,

2009). Like his predecessor, Mills' general composure, patience, modesty and demeanor brought

some respect, nobility and dignity to the office of the president. In analyzing the specific talents

and behavior of President Mills, it becomes obvious that he is indeed a servant-leader. His

posture, patience and demeanor are attributes that characterizes a servant-leader. No wonder

Addai (2009) opined that the specific talents and behavior of president Mills to his job such as

dependable manager, comprehensive in problem solving, service-oriented, objective, proficient

and skilled in technical specialty, as well as maintenance of standards identify his value to the

political position he occupied.

In conclusion, one can argue that President Mills' personal qualities undoubtedly portray him as a

servant leader, even though he exhibited traces of laissez-faire leadership styles before his death

on July 24, 2012, and before the end of his tenure, making him the first sitting president to die in

office. So far, it appears that the application of the proposed leadership conceptual framework to

Atta Mills functions fairly well, even though one cannot predict what the final result of his

transition would have been.