Barbara Dede Ama Okai-Tettey, a lawyer and Senior Compliance Manager at Stanbic Bank Ghana LTD, has urged risk and compliance professionals to evolve beyond a prescriptive mindset and embrace a more strategic, solution-driven approach that enables business growth and unlocks competitive advantage.
Speaking at Risk Summit 2025 on the topic “Compliance as a Catalyst: Unlocking Competitive Advantage Through Resilience”, Ms. Okai-Tettey emphasized that the traditional model, focused solely on directives, is no longer effective in today’s complex risk landscape.
“As risk professionals, we’re quick to say, ‘This is what you need to do’, but often fail to provide context. Without explaining the ‘why’, we risk losing the support of our first line of defence. That’s when we’re perceived as blockers rather than business enablers,” she noted.
She stressed that offering rationale must be accompanied by practical guidance. “Even when we articulate the ‘why’, we tend to stop short of delivering the ‘how’. That’s a missed opportunity. Competitive advantage lies in walking the business through both the ‘why’ and the ‘how’; that’s where real impact happens.”
Ms. Okai-Tettey called for a transformation in how compliance professionals engage with the business, advocating for a more collaborative and value-adding posture. “We’ve long operated as gatekeepers, saying ‘No’ or ‘Stop’, but what we should be saying is ‘No, but here’s how you can still achieve your objective within the rules’. That shift changes how the business sees us.”
She encouraged compliance teams to step out of their traditional comfort zones and become drivers of resilience and innovation. “To be seen as strategic partners, we must go beyond identifying risks; we need to guide the business in managing them effectively.”
Addressing leadership’s role, Ms. Okai-Tettey challenged executives to reframe compliance as a growth enabler rather than a cost centre. “When compliance is embedded into strategy, it’s not about ticking boxes. It becomes a tool that drives resilience, fosters innovation, and builds long-term trust”, she explained.
“Leaders must champion ethical conduct and integrate compliance into decision-making from the outset, not as an afterthought”, she added.
She concluded by emphasizing that the shift must begin from within the compliance function itself.
“To move from being reactive to becoming proactive business partners, we need to change how we think. Our mindset shapes our leadership, our responses and ultimately, the value we deliver”.
The 2025 Risk Summit convened industry leaders, policymakers and governance experts to discuss the evolving role of risk and compliance in enabling business resilience, strengthening oversight and navigating a rapidly changing regulatory environment.
