Leadership in Ghana's public service

Dr. Julius Debrah has contributed to Ghana's public service for more than fifteen years. As Chief of Staff to President John Dramani Mahama he sits at the intersection of leadership, policy coordination and public administration, helping to turn the government's vision into actionable programmes.

He first held the office in 2015, succeeding Mr. Prosper Douglas Bani, and served until 2017. He was appointed again when President Mahama was inaugurated in 2025, a return that builds on his experience of managing the machinery of government at the highest level.

Dr. Debrah served as Chief Executive Officer of the then Ghana Tourist Board. During his tenure, and working with the Ministry of Tourism, the Board was transformed into the Ghana Tourism Authority in 2011, following Parliament's passage of the Tourism Act, 2011 (Act 817).

The reform strengthened the institution's mandate to promote, regulate and develop Ghana's tourism sector, and remains one of the defining institutional changes in the industry.

In February 2013, President Mahama nominated Dr. Debrah as Eastern Regional Minister. A month later he was reassigned to the Greater Accra Region, where he served as Regional Minister for the nation's capital and its administrative and commercial hub.

He later became Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, leading national efforts on decentralisation, on strengthening the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, and on rural development. The work gave him a close understanding of how government policy reaches communities across the country.

He began his secondary education at Mpraeso Secondary School and completed his Advanced Level studies at Achimota School between 1987 and 1989. At the University of Ghana he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology and Sociology, and in July 2026 the University awarded him a Doctorate in Museum and Heritage Studies, reflecting a long-standing interest in Ghana's cultural heritage and its role in national development.