The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called on Ghanaian business leaders to place integrity, honesty and humility at the heart of corporate leadership, warning that businesses cannot achieve lasting success without public trust.

Speaking at the Ghana Business Leaders Conclave held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, the revered monarch urged leaders in both the private and public sectors to prioritise ethical leadership and responsible decision-making in the management of organisations.

According to Otumfuo, trust remains the foundation upon which every successful business is built, regardless of technological advancement or legal systems.

“Business has always been built on trust, Long before technology, long before contracts and long before complex legal language, the foundation of business was a simple principle — my word is my bond,” he said.

The Asantehene explained that integrity is demonstrated not through speeches or public appearances, but through the everyday decisions leaders make, especially when faced with pressure, power or financial gain.

“Integrity is how a person behaves when nobody is watching. It is how a leader acts when power is in his hands. It is how a manager decides when profits are at stake,” he stated.

Addressing an audience of corporate executives, entrepreneurs and professionals, Otumfuo stressed that ethical leadership is essential not only for business growth but also for national development and social stability.

He referenced the six core values of integrity identified by the International Centre for Academic Integrity: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage, noting that those principles are deeply rooted in Ghanaian culture and traditional values.

“These are not foreign values. They are universal values,” he said.

The Asantehene further warned against unethical business practices such as tax evasion, exploitation of workers and dishonesty, saying such conduct weakens institutions and undermines national progress.

“The honest business leader does not cut corners. He does not cheat the state and then complain that the nation is weak,” he stressed.

According to him, unethical behaviour at the top level of leadership often filters down through entire organisations and eventually becomes part of workplace culture.

“If a manager teaches workers to cut corners for the business, one day those same workers will cut corners for themselves,” he warned.

Otumfuo also turned attention to leadership attitudes within organisations, criticising arrogance and ego-driven management styles that often create tension and division in workplaces.

“Arrogance is not leadership. Arrogance is a hindrance to harmony,” he declared.

“A person who has risen to the office of chief executive must not assume that wisdom begins and ends with him.”

He urged leaders to remain humble and recognise the contributions of employees and other stakeholders to the success of institutions.

“You are only one person in a long chain of actors whose combined efforts produce success,” he advised.

The Asantehene further argued that while Ghana’s private sector requires stronger support and stimulation to grow, businesses themselves must also earn public trust through ethical conduct and accountability.

For many young entrepreneurs and professionals at the event, the speech served as both a leadership lesson and a reminder that long-term success depends not only on profit but also on character and responsibility.

“Business without integrity is danger, leadership without humility is arrogance and prosperity without ethics is fragile,” the Asantehene concluded.



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