Roland Acquah-Steven · Founder & President

Profile

A life formed by strategy, leadership and global perspective.

The Centre's Founder and President, Roland Acquah-Steven, brings more than two decades of professional experience spanning statecraft, security, media, strategic communication and enterprise.

His academic and executive formation reflects a sustained engagement with the institutions, ideas and disciplines that shape leadership, international affairs and strategic decision-making.

His intellectual journey spans four continents, drawing from distinguished institutions in Europe, North America, Asia and South America. It encompasses international law and diplomacy, security policy, geopolitical foresight, executive leadership, negotiation, management, public policy and strategic marketing.

This multidisciplinary formation informs his vision for the Centre: to cultivate an African tradition of grand strategy that combines global intellectual engagement with cultural depth, historical consciousness and a clear sense of national and continental purpose.

EuropeCambridge · Oxford · London · Lancaster · Geneva

North AmericaHarvard · Cornell · McGill

AsiaYokohama · Bangalore · CEIBS

South AmericaFundação Getulio Vargas, Brazil

Each ring is 2,000 km from Accra. Hover or tap a city to see its institution and its distance from Accra.

The journey, mapped from Accra

An education drawn across the world, returned to Ghana.

Every institution of his formation, placed by its true distance and bearing from Accra. The map is centred on Ghana because the purpose of the journey was always to bring that knowledge home.

Academic and executive formation

Five disciplines. One strategic mind.

I

Security, International Law and Diplomacy

University of Gold Coast, Ghana In progress

Accra, Ghana

MSc International Law, Diplomacy and Security. His postgraduate studies examine the relationship between international law, diplomacy and security, with research focused on integrating intelligence into grand strategy for small states.

This inquiry reflects a central concern of the Centre: how African states can strengthen strategic autonomy, anticipate geopolitical change and translate intelligence into enduring national advantage.

Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP)

Geneva, Switzerland

Certificate in Geopolitics and Global Futures. Symposium on “Transformative Technologies and Security”.

University of London

London, UK

Certificate of Higher Education in Law.

II

Strategic Leadership and Negotiation

University of Cambridge, Judge Business School

Cambridge, UK

Advanced Leadership Programme.

University of Oxford, Saïd Business School

Oxford, UK

Oxford Programme on Negotiation.

Cornell University, Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management

Ithaca, USA

Certificate in Executive Leadership Programme.

This executive formation strengthens his interest in leadership judgement, negotiation, institutional performance and the management of complex strategic challenges.

III

Global Management and Five Continental Mindsets

International Masters Program for Managers (IMPM)

Multicontinental

A multicontinental management and leadership experience. The IMPM framework brings together five complementary management mindsets, developed through engagement with leading institutions across five continents.

01 · Reflective

Reflect

Lancaster University

Learning through reflection, experience and critical self-examination.

United Kingdom

02 · Analytical

Analyse

McGill University

Applying rigorous analysis to complex organisational and strategic problems.

Canada

03 · Collaborative

Collaborate

Yokohama National University

Advancing collective intelligence, relationships and collaborative leadership.

Japan

04 · Action

Act

Fundação Getulio Vargas

Translating strategic intent into decisive action and measurable outcomes.

Brazil

05 · Worldly

Engage

Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

Understanding organisations and leadership within a diverse, interconnected global environment.

India

China Europe International Business School (CEIBS)

Shanghai, China

Advanced Diploma in Management.

Together, these experiences reinforce a management philosophy that values reflection, analytical discipline, collaboration, execution and global awareness.

IV

Public Policy and Institutional Management

Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University

Cambridge, USA

Certificate in Shaping Health Policy: Identifying Opportunity, Managing Change.

CASS Europe / Ghana Technology University College

Accra, Ghana

Master of Business Administration (MBA), Healthcare Management.

University of Applied Management

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Arts (BA), International and Intercultural Management.

This academic foundation connects policy analysis, institutional management and intercultural understanding with the practical demands of leadership and organisational development.

V

Business, Marketing and Strategic Enterprise

Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)

Cambridge, UK

Advanced Diploma in Business Studies.

London Centre of Marketing (LCM)

London, UK

NQF Level 6 Graduate Diploma in International Marketing, Strategic Marketing Management and Entrepreneurship.

This formation contributes to his understanding of markets, institutional positioning, strategic influence, enterprise development and the relationship between communication and organisational purpose.

The intellectual foundation of the Centre

Grand strategy is not the pursuit of power.

The Centre for Grand Strategy and Cultural Development, Ghana emerges from a conviction that Africa's future requires more than the management of immediate challenges. It requires the ability to anticipate change, understand power, integrate knowledge, cultivate cultural confidence and make choices that serve enduring national and continental interests.

For its Founder and President, grand strategy is the disciplined alignment of national purpose, institutional capability, economic ambition, cultural identity and strategic foresight.

His multidisciplinary formation informs the Centre's commitment to bringing together scholars, policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, cultural thinkers and practitioners to explore the strategic questions that will shape Africa's place in the world.

The Centre seeks to bridge scholarship and practice, global knowledge and African experience, strategic ambition and responsible leadership.

Its founding philosophy is expressed in three words

Strategy with Soul

Think

with intellectual rigour

Act

with strategic clarity

Lead

with cultural depth

Contact the Founder Read the thesis