Speaking at the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Ghana 2025 Governance Forum, themed “Governance Amidst Transition”, Ms Obo-Nai shared insights from Telecel Ghana’s transition from Vodafone Ghana between 2023 and 2024.

“Transition, uncomfortable as it may feel, is a great teacher. It reveals whether we built institutions on solid grounds or on convenient assumptions,” she told attendees. “One of the biggest governance failures in any transition is assuming old controls will automatically fit into a new structure. They rarely do,” she added.

The IIA Governance Forum is an annual platform dedicated to advancing good governance, accountability, and effective internal audit practices across public and private sectors.

Ms Obo-Nai explained that Telecel Ghana established a Risk Council, a cross-functional team tasked with conducting risk reviews and audit sessions. She highlighted that internal auditors were integrated into the redesign process from day one, preventing control gaps that often arise after major acquisitions and mergers.

“Our transition was a major shift across every part of the business. It involved replacing systems, creating and localising new roles, revising and redocumenting processes, and embedding new ways of working without compromising our pledge to employees, customers, and other stakeholders,” she said.

Telecel Ghana also implemented a Control Continuity Plan to track financial, operational, and reputational risks daily, treating data migration as a top priority. The outcome, according to Ms Obo-Nai, was one of the smoothest transitions in the company’s history, marked by the lowest attrition levels during a major shift.

The transition followed Telecel Group’s 2023 acquisition of Vodafone’s 70 percent stake in Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited. The rebranding to Telecel Ghana was completed in 2024, accompanied by a renewed push for investment and digital innovation.

Ms Obo-Nai urged Ghanaian corporate leaders to view transitions as pivotal moments for leadership and governance. She outlined three lessons applicable across industries: embed audit early, confront internal cultural uncertainty head-on, and protect data with uncompromising discipline.

“Following these principles makes the difference between a transition that strengthens a company and one that weakens it,” she concluded.