Losing my son made me value time with loved ones more – Sir Sam Jonah

Business leader Sir Sam Jonah has spoken about the loss of his son, Richard, saying the experience changed his perspective on life and made him more conscious of the importance of spending time with loved ones.

Delivering the keynote address at the 2026 TrueLife Experience at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, he reflected on the limits of authority and influence in the face of personal loss.

“There are experiences in which the authority you exercise elsewhere offers you no protection. You cannot negotiate your way out of grief. You cannot summon the right people into a room and ask them to resolve it. You are a father who has lost his son,” he said.

Sir Sam Jonah said he did not want to turn his son's life or death into a lesson for his audience.

“He is my son. I love him. I miss him,” he said.

He, however, explained that the loss had changed how he viewed time and everyday interactions with the people closest to him.

“What I can say is that such a loss changes the weight you give to things. You become more conscious of the value of time with the people you love. You hear the words differently, ‘I will do it later’,” he said.

He added that ordinary moments, including conversations, shared meals and telephone calls, had become more significant to him.

The business leader, who said much of his working life had been spent thinking about the future, noted that his experience of grief had shifted his attention towards the present.

“I have spent much of my working life thinking about the future. Loss has made me more attentive to the present,” he said.

Sir Sam Jonah also acknowledged the sacrifices his wife, Giselle, and their family made throughout his career.

He said the demands of executive life, including frequent travel and long periods away from home, often required family members to make adjustments that were rarely reflected in professional accounts of his achievements.

“My wife, Giselle, and our family have lived alongside the demands of my working life. An executive biography may record an appointment in a single line. At home, that appointment may mean more travel, more absence, more worry and more occasions when the family has to adjust,” he said.

“The biography records what the executive achieved. It rarely records what other people had to carry.”

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

The event focused on courage, personal development and purposeful action, with speakers sharing experiences and lessons from their personal and professional journeys.