Puplampu, B.B.2019-04-292019-04-292010-10Bill Buenar Puplampu, (2010) "Leadership as engagement, leadership as system development: A contextualised Ghanaian study", European Business Review, Vol. 22 Issue: 6, pp.624-651, https://doi.org/10.1108/09555341011082925https://doi.org/10.1108/09555341011082925Vol. 22 Issue: 6, pp.624-651http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/29634Purpose: This paper uses data about the challenges and difficulties confronting organisations and leaders to advance a dualized meaning of corporate leadership in the context of a developing country. The purpose is to describe a leadership frame that is locally contextualised, thereby bringing conceptualisation and thought closer to action, reified reality and applicability. Design/methodology/approach: This research was designed as a series of three studies starting from an applied/interventionist standpoint. The first study used data from applied diagnostic interventions, the second used qualitative interviews and the third used open-ended questionnaires. Data were collected from 25 Ghanaian organisations and 29 corporate executives. Findings: Drawing on a range of everyday issues such as poor attention to customers, pressure from stakeholders (such as political overlords) and leaders' "love" for perks, the paper develops a notion of leadership as "engagement" and as "system development". Research limitations/implications: The data are exploratory and the sample size may be considered small. Originality/value: The paper discusses implications for leadership research and leader development in a developing country like Ghana. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.enGhanaLeadershipArticle