Mr Prince Kofi Amoabeng (left), Managing Director, UT Bank Ghana Limited, interacting with Professor Kwaku Atuahene-Gima (right), Executive Director, CEIBS Africa Programme, after the Vodafone African Business Leaders Forum in Accra. Picture: EDNA SARKODIEThe Founder of the International Foundation for Africa Innovation, Professor Kwaku Atuahene-Gima, has called for the establishment of a national leadership centre to groom leaders to transform the economic fortunes of the continent.
Speaking at the eighth Vodafone African Business Leaders Forum (ABLF), which was on the theme “setting the next agenda for Africa “ in Accra, Prof. Atuahene-Gima said this would help generate a crop of leaders who could come up with practical ideas to solve the myriad of problems in the country.
The forum seeks to brainstorm on the need to create a dynamic leadership and a new calibre of leaders to lead the socio-economic transformation of the continent.
The Vodafone ABLF, which was organised by the Business and Financial Times, seeks to develop leadership in Africa by providing a platform for public and private sector leaders of Africa to brainstorm and recommend solutions to developing issues on the African continent.
It featured two plenary sessions with the opening session discussing “African Solutions for African problems: Creating a New Crop of Leaders to Spearhead Africa’s Growth Agenda”.
The forum attracted high profile personalities from Academia and the banking sector, including professor Cletus Dodonu, Prof. Kwaku Atuahene-Gima, Executive Director, CEIBS Africa, Mr Mike Nyinaku, CEO, Beige Capital; and Prince Kofi Amoabeng, CEO, UT Bank.
On political governance, Prof. Atuahene-Gima said that “We need to celebrate leaders with foresight, insight and ‘cross-sight’ because they have the skills and experience to solve Africa’s problems.”
Professor Atuahene –Gima said recently some people had been hiding behind the veils of politics to present themselves as entrepreneurs to amass wealth adding that “they are cheats who end up running the country down.”
Mr Amoabeng called on the government to put in place systems and structures that would facilitate business growth.
He mentioned that the absence of a strong system and structures was the major contributory factor to corruption but not the individuals themselves.
He further expressed concern about the absence of an address system in the country which he said hampered business transaction and accountability extremely.
Mr Amoabeng also said leadership must be committed to putting in systems and structures to create a more congenial business environment in the country.
Addressing the forum, Mr Nyinaku said Africa’s resources were negotiated based on the value in order to develop industries on the continent and move businesses from the idea of family sustenance into industries.
By Ruby Efe Ani-Adjei & Fred Dzakpata/Daily Graphic/Ghana
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