In a time when public confidence in leadership is often undermined by tales of extravagance and mismanagement, Professor Rasford Gyampo, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), is setting the pace for an austere and principled leadership style.
In an exclusive interview with Adomonline.com, Professor Gyampo revealed a series of decisive measures he has implemented to rescue the financially-strained Authority.
According to him, these efforts are not only part of an ethical commitment but a practical necessity to restore the institution’s financial stability and credibility.
“I travel economy class – and so will everyone else”.
“I believe I am the only CEO in Ghana at the moment who travels abroad with an economy class ticket,” Prof. Gyampo stated.
“I do so because the current financial position of my organisation makes it unethical and unthinkable for me to be opulent.”
This symbolic yet powerful gesture has come to define the new culture he is cultivating at the GSA—one rooted in accountability, fiscal discipline, and shared sacrifice.
“I am of the firm belief and conviction that CEOs and Managers of organisations that run at a loss must have no business enjoying largess that goes with their positions,” he added.
Inheriting a cash-strapped Authority
Prof. Gyampo took over leadership of the GSA amid a significant financial crisis, largely stemming from a sweeping government policy under the Mahama administration.
The policy involved the consolidation of excess funds from various government agencies to meet pressing national financial obligations, including the payment of bondholders.
While effective from a national budgeting standpoint, the initiative left institutions like the Ghana Shippers Authority severely cash-strapped.
“This meant the Authority suddenly became cash-strapped,” Gyampo explained. “So as CEO, I had to offer an innovative response to cut expenditure to ensure that the organization survives.”
Bold cost-cutting measures
In response, the new CEO has rolled out a comprehensive cost-cutting strategy. Key among these measures include:
Terminating and renegotiating contracts: Several pre-existing contracts were either cancelled or renegotiated to secure better value and lower prices for services.
Suspension of staff incentives: Some staff allowances and incentive packages have been put on hold temporarily.
Strict travel regulations: All foreign travel has been suspended unless it is deemed essential to the work of the Authority.
When such travel is necessary, every staff member—from senior executives to junior employees—must travel economy class.
“Even on the few occasions I have had to travel, I have flown economy, and this will continue,” he emphasized. “We must rethink the practice where very ordinary people who get political appointments suddenly develop an over-bloated sense of themselves.”
A new model for public sector leadership?
Professor Gyampo’s bold stance is particularly noteworthy given the perception of endemic waste and entitlement in several state-owned enterprises.
Though it’s early days yet, many see the Ghana Shippers Authority as a potential success story—one that could demonstrate how moral leadership and prudent management can breathe new life into a struggling public institution.
As the GSA navigates its path to recovery, all eyes will be on Professor Gyampo and the transformative agenda he has begun to set in motion—one economy-class flight at a time.