Youth to become catalyst for change in Africa

A four-day conference held at Legon, Accra, assembled tertiary students from various educational institutions and universities in the country -- spearheaded by the Awake Christian Men’s Network (ACMN), a non-denominational network of Christian men dedicated to raising visionary servant-leaders for the transformation of homes, institutions and governments.
 

Christened, Men of Integrity and Power Conference, it is an annual international men’s event aimed at positioning men to assume the full responsibility for their creation.

This year’s conference, themed “When Men Become Men”, was aimed at causing all men to return to their first love of understanding their uniqueness in creation and to take up the challenge to rebuilding their lives, families, institutions and the nation with biblical principles.

Speakers were drawn from high profile business leaders, top executives, and public sector managers to help empower and transform young men while encouraging them through mentorship. The conference was sponsored by Mancapital group, a financial sector operator.

Challenging the youth to change the story of Africa,  under the topic ‘The Rising Men of Hope-Redefining the African Story’, Mr. Michael Allan Asare, Chief Executive Officer of the Mancapital Group, observed that Africa’s story has been written in a bizarre way and that African men need to prepare themselves to change the negative stories about the continent.

“Africa need to change its story: African men need to change to take charge of the continent’s destiny. The continent needs to identify and strengthen itself to the things around it.”

He said the time has come for the continent to also contribute solutions to global problems. 

“Africa’s vast human and economic potential, natural resources and sources of clean energy offer highly attractive investment opportunities which can be exploited for the benefit not just for Africa, but the world. Its advantages include its extraordinary mineral wealth and agricultural potential.”

Boasting about the strength in Africa’s youth, he mentioned that the continent has a young working population and a growing middle-class with considerable and growing purchasing power. 

This in addition, Mr. Asare said, positions the continent with a lot of  treasures hat need to be  exploited to benefit the entire world. “The reality is that Africa is becoming a remarkable success story,” he said. 

In 2010, six of the world’s 10 fastest-growing economies were in Africa, and seven African countries are expected to be in the top 10 over the next five years.

Africa’s output is expected to expand by 50% by 2015. Its consumer sectors -- goods, telecom and banking among others -- present the largest opportunity and are already growing two to three times faster than those countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

The rate of return on foreign investment in Africa is higher than for any other region in the world.

This is not surprising given the competitive edge of the continent.

Mr. Joseph Ockan, Managing Director of Man Botch Ghana Limited, said Ghana’s current hope is in its youth -- and that the youth must be ready at all times to work for the nation’s growth.

He encouraged the youth to pursue honesty and trustworthiness in business transactions, since this has enormous rewards. 

He said the world is waiting for the rising of men with distinguished character as catalysts for change and voices of hope to the nations of the world. 

“The world out there is not friendly and it is for the youth to help change it. Just be strong, honest, maximise potential and leave a positive footprint.  Young people are the last hope for the country, and you are the only hope for this world, too,” he said.

Mr. Prince Williams Oduro, ACMN President, said the world’s values are broken because men have failed to be men and gaps need to be filled. “Men need to rise up to their responsibilities and father the next generation.

“We believe that 99 percent of the success in families, homes, and institutions all across the globe rests on the ability of men to restore hope,” he remarked.