Sir Sam Jonah says true legacy lies in how others remember you

Business leader Sir Sam Jonah has urged people to reflect on how their actions affect others, saying a person's legacy is ultimately determined by the memories and experiences of those whose lives they have touched.

Delivering the keynote address at the 2026 TrueLife Experience at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, he described legacy as something people speak about when the person concerned is no longer present to shape the narrative.

“It is a funeral word. It is what they say in the tributes, after the second hymn, when you are in no position to correct the facts. So when I was asked to speak on legacy, I did what any sensible man of my vintage would do. I checked my pulse,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.

Sir Sam Jonah said he approaches the concept of legacy with caution, arguing that people cannot determine how they will ultimately be remembered.

“It can sound as though we are entitled to write the final judgement on our own lives. We are not,” he said.

He explained that employees, young professionals, family members and communities would each form their own impressions based on how they were treated.

An employee, he said, may remember whether a leader treated them fairly, while a young professional may remember whether they were given a genuine opportunity to grow.

He added that families would remember whether their loved ones were available when needed, while communities would judge leaders by whether they fulfilled promises made to them.

“Those memories may be quite different from the account you would have written about yourself,” he said.

Sir Sam Jonah said this understanding had helped keep him grounded, particularly when reflecting on the development of Ghanaian professionals during his time at Ashanti Goldfields.

He said he took pride in seeing professionals he had worked with and mentored go on to achieve success beyond the roles they held under his leadership.

“When I see someone I have mentored exercise judgement, lead with integrity or give an opportunity to another person, I feel that something worthwhile has travelled further,” he said.

The business leader also credited his parents for instilling values that continue to influence his decisions.

He said their guidance and standards had shaped his understanding of responsibility, even though they did not explicitly describe their influence in terms of legacy.

“When I remember my parents, I realise how much of their influence remains in decisions I still make. They did not need to use the word 'legacy'. They raised a son. They corrected him. They gave him standards by which to examine himself. Many years later, I am still drawing on what they gave me,” he said.

Reflecting on the theme of the event, Sir Sam Jonah said courage and ambition should be accompanied by preparation, careful judgement and consideration for others.

“The audacity to dare has taken different forms at different stages of my life. But this much I have learnt: You do not have to see the whole journey before you take the next responsible step,” he said.

“Prepare yourself. Listen. Take that step with care. And remember the people whose lives will be touched by where you place your feet. That is what I would leave with you,” he added.

The 2026 TrueLife Experience, held under the theme “The Audacity to Dare”, brought together business executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, professionals and emerging leaders to discuss courage, personal development and purposeful action.