What Naval Leadership Can Teach Civilian Leaders of Today

In my 38 years as a naval officer—including four years at the helm of the Ghana Navy—I came to understand that leadership at sea is not merely about giving orders; it is about unity, trust, and shared destiny. Naval leadership is forged in environments where the margin for error is thin and the consequences of failure are immediate and unforgiving. In such settings, one truth becomes clear: when the boat sinks, we sink together.

This principle is not theoretical—it is lived. I recall vividly an episode that crystallized this truth 24 years ago in 2001. I was serving as the Executive Officer aboard Ghana Navy Ship ANZONE during its maiden voyage from Alaska. The ship, a 55-metre ex-U.S. Coast Guard cutter with a top speed of 10 knots, encountered a category 8 storm while crossing the Atlantic Ocean. In the middle of that vast, unforgiving sea, we became a sitting duck. The ship stalled several times. The waves pounded with fury. And yet, in that terrifying moment, we did not have the luxury of despair.

As the Executive Officer, alongside the Captain, I had to stand firm—not only in my duties but in my demeanor, because the crew looked to us for courage. Even as doubt crept into our hearts, we wore a brave face to maintain the morale and hope of our sailors. Each crew member had a specific task, and everyone knew that one mistake could cost us the mission, the ship, and our lives. But we pulled together, each person executing their role to perfection, and we survived the storm—not because of one hero, but because of collective strength and unity.

This story offers more than just a memory; it offers a lesson for civilian leadership today. Too often, political and organizational leaders fall into the trap of divide and rule, focusing on short-term advantage at the expense of long-term unity. But the ship of state, like a naval vessel, demands cohesion, clarity of purpose, and mutual respect. When leaders sow division, they weaken the very fabric of the nation or institution they are called to serve.

Civilian leaders must understand that we are all in the same boat. The civil servant in the hinterland, the entrepreneur in the city, the fisher on the coast, and the policymaker in the capital—all have roles to play. When we succeed, we succeed together. When we fail, we all bear the burden. It is time to embrace a leadership style that prioritizes teamwork over ego, shared vision over individual gain, and courage over comfort.

In the Navy, we often part with the phrase, “fair winds and following seas.” To our civilian leaders steering the national vessel through today’s storms, we extend the same wish—but remind them: it takes the whole crew, pulling together, to reach a safe and prosperous shore.