Nobody succeeds alone – Sir Sam Jonah reflects on journey to business leadership
Sir Sam Jonah, Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, spoke at the 2026 TrueLife Experience in Accra. He rejected the idea of the self-made person, stating that his success in the mining industry relied on the help of others. He recalled his path from the town of Obuasi to becoming the chief executive of Ashanti Goldfields by age 36. He explicitly stated that nobody succeeds alone and that mentors provided necessary guidance and support.
Business leader and Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Sir Sam Jonah, has challenged the notion of the self-made individual, saying his rise to the top of the mining industry was made possible by the support, guidance and opportunities provided by others. Delivering the keynote address at the 2026 TrueLife Experience at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, he reflected on his journey from the mining town of Obuasi to becoming chief executive of Ashanti Goldfields at the age of 36. “I did not get there alone, and I want to say so plainly, because self-made is one of the great lies of public life. Nobody is self-made,” he said. “There were men who taught me, men who covered for my mistakes, and men who took a risk on me when the safer bet was obvious,” he added.