‘Leadership failure can be overturned’

Executive Director of Global Media Alliance (GMA) Edward Boateng says the country’s leadership can come good if they develop the right mentality for the transformation of the country.
 

Speaking at the Ghana Economic Forum held last Tuesday, he said despite the past gloomy years, Ghanaians have to be upbeat about the fortunes of the country. He cited Tanzania as a country whose fortunes have been improved through transformational leadership.

“We can do it: the fact that we have made mistakes should not define our future,” he said.

According to him, political leaders must be ready to forego all the niceties they enjoy and work toward the economic transformation of the country.  He stated that as public servants, political leaders should neither seek medical care nor send their wards abroad for education. 

He said politicians can only solve the problems that pertain in the health and education sectors if they are active consumers. 

Discussants at the forum blamed leadership for the country’s inability to turn challenges facing it into opportunities. 

The delegates at the forum observed that the consistent lack of integrity, and the prevalent greed and corruption among some leaders, is the bane of the country’s development.

 UT Bank CEO Prince Amoabeng noted: “African leaders have become very selfish, greedy and corrupt; and what that brings is that it inhibits our future developmental agenda. If we can cut corruption by 30 percent, we will develop.”

The CEO of Stratcomm Africa, Esther Cobbah, added: “Good leadership is a central factor in the success or failure of nations, organisations, public sector institutions and local communities -- and there is a need to give it the needed attention as a nation.

Delivering the keynote address at the forum, the CEO of Access Bank Ghana Limited Dolapo Ogundimu said although Africa prides itself as the richest continent by virtue of its possession of more than 50 percent of the world’s gold, diamonds, oil, and other natural resources, its political leaders have not been able to tap into this wealth.

Mr. Ogandimu noted that strategic leadership at the institutional and individual levels is a great catalyst in driving national economic prosperity.

Mr. Boateng said Africa needs leaders who are “bold and can inspire the citizenry with hope”.

“We need leaders who will be bold in making decisions that will be painful today, but will benefit the country in the long-run. There has to be a sense of responsibility in leadership, and leaders must be ruthless in being efficient.

“I am sure things will work out for this country, but we need to have leaders with integrity, boldness, and with a sense of responsibility,” he said.

Prince Amoabeng added that Africa needs to take advantage of ICT to transform the economy, but not until the structures are put in place. 

“We need leadership that cares about the people, leadership that will put the vision in place and be dedicated to it, commit to it and get the people to have hope in it.”

The Ghana Economic Forum brought together decision-makers and business leaders to deliberate on issues affecting the country’s economic fortunes, and was aimed at addressing the current leadership challenges and the role of leadership in driving the country’s economic prosperity.

Source: B&FT