The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the defunct UT Bank, Prince Kofi Amoabeng, has expressed concern over the increasing influence of political parties on public leadership, which he believes undermines the independence and effectiveness of political leaders.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the inaugural PK Amoabeng Ambassadors, Amoabeng criticized the financial support and resources that political parties provide to aspiring candidates, noting that these contributions often create a sense of indebtedness.

He argued that such obligations can significantly impact decision-making, governance, and overall leadership effectiveness, as political leaders may prioritize party interests over national concerns.

“The problem is normally not the leader per se. Some leaders can be crooks and tyrants, or whatever. But some leaders are good leaders. They are humble, they care about the people, but when it comes to power, they are not allowed, and they are not given the freedom to do what their mind tells them to do.

“For example, in politics, before you become a leader, your political party has actually put in a lot of effort, raising money, incurring debt, and everything to support you to become the leader.

“You cannot overrule what the party says, because they need to repay those money, and they need to even build up funds for the next election. So the leader is not his own. It is those who pull the strings along.”