LEAPS Program launched in Ghana to Strengthen Public Sector Leadership

The Leadership Excellence in Africa’s Public Sector (LEAPS) program – a groundbreaking initiative under the Enhancing Leadership and Governance in Public Financial Management (ELG-PFM) in Africa, has been launched in Accra. It is an initiative of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF).

Director of Programs at the ACBF, Mbacke Niang, who did the launching said the event marked a pivotal step towards empowering senior public finance managers across the continent with the leadership skills necessary to navigate complex fiscal landscapes and drive transformative change.

He emphasized the need for African public sector leaders to go beyond technical expertise.

“The challenges we face today—complex fiscal landscapes, global economic pressures, and the demand for responsive governance—require leaders who can combine technical knowledge with soft skills such as integrity, adaptability, collaboration, and visionary thinking,” he noted.

Building on the momentum from its official debut in Zimbabwe earlier this month, LEAPS is set to roll out across other target countries, including Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal. Ghana now joins the ranks as the latest host, reflecting a growing commitment to leadership development within the continent’s public financial management sector.

The program offers a multifaceted approach to capacity building, including self-paced virtual learning modules, coaching sessions, mentorship from leading African specialists, and workshops on emerging issues such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public finance, Green PFM, and crisis management. By addressing both individual and collective leadership dynamics, LEAPS aims to foster a culture of ethical decision-making, accountability, and effective collaboration.

Speaking directly to the program’s first cohort in Ghana, Niang called for a commitment to growth and service.

“This is not just a learning journey; it is a commitment to the future,” he said, urging participants to embrace the opportunity as a path to creating a legacy of stability, prosperity, and hope for their institutions and countries.

The presence of high-ranking officials at the event underscores the program’s importance. Acknowledging their support, the Niang highlighted the role of senior public finance leaders in shaping Africa’s future and thanked the Ghanaian government for endorsing the program.

The LEAPS program aims to transform Africa’s public finance managers into leaders capable of leveraging resources to drive sustainable development and achieve financial resilience. By equipping leaders with the tools and networks to enact meaningful change, it is poised to leave a lasting impact on governance and public service excellence across the continent.

As the program expands its footprint, it signals a new chapter for African leadership—one that prioritizes not only competence but also the human qualities necessary for transformative governance.

By Evelyn Naadu Borquaye