ABSTRACT The study was set out to investigate the leadership challenges that mitigate the realization of the core mandate of basic schools, especially in the Asante Akim North District of the Ashanti. The objectives of the study were to determine the leadership competencies and acumen of basic school heads in their management, ascertain critical factors that mitigate the ‘leadership’ of basic schools management and to assess the overall effects of leadership challenges on basic school management and student performance. The study adopted descriptive survey design which used the quantitative approach.All basic school heads and teachers drawn from 59 public Basic Schools in the Asante Akim North District, constituted the target population for the study. A sample size of 110 participants, made up of 10 heads and 100 teachers were randomly sampled to partake in the study. The study revealed that external factors that contributed to leadership failure were lack of adequate support from GES, lack of adequate support from the district assembly, lack of adequate support from PTA and SMC, among others. Based on the findings, it is recommended among others that forums should be organized for head teachers and teachers to gather information on how to improve students’ academic performance for implementation by the district directorate of education in the Asante Akim North District of the Ashanti Region.