Kufuor launches book on peace and security

Former President, John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday launched a book entitled “The Role of Peace and Security, Political Leadership in the Socio-Economic Development of Emerging Countries: A Coniedian of Lessons Learnt from Sub-Saharan Africa”.

The 253 paged book which was authored by Major-General Francis Adu-Amanfoh (rtd), a former head of intelligence of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) seeks to examine the roles that peace and security, political leadership, and entrepreneurship can play in the sustainable socio-economic development of emerging countries, exemplified by Sub-Sahara Africa.

The book first reviews the nature of the emerging world, discusses the subject matter in detail, and concludes with a compendium of lessons to be learnt by, primarily political leaders, national security practitioners, entrepreneurs and inventors, and academicians.

Launching the book in Accra, the former President Kufuor observed that everywhere on the African continent, people are clamouring for development, however, development is not just only about infrastructures, but also peace, security and entrepreneurship.

He said the continent is still being plagued with many conflicts, and that the solution to the numerous challenges facing the continent lies in the book.

He said development must reflect in the quality of lives of the people, adding that the people must live in dignity and be able to raise their heads without fear of those in authority.

The former President said the success or failure of the nation depends on all of us, declaring that “without good leadership, there can be no good governance, and without good governance, we cannot empower the people”.

He said the private sector is very critical in the socio-economic development of every nation, which should be given the needed support by all governments.

He noted that in Africa many of the leaders since independence have not had what they required to manage nations, stating that Africa needs leaders who had taken the pain and time to nurture themselves.

He said political office holders who were not aware of the underpinnings of their jobs, might end up having some important files and other documents being hidden from them by the civil servants.

Former President Kufuor said as the continent begins to get the crop of good leaders, who are willing to do the right thing, there might be some elements in society who would try to cause instability, and this is where the security forces must come in to stop such development.

He said Africa has 60 per cent of the world’s arable land and is endowed with huge natural resources such as minerals like petroleum than the whole of Europe combined, yet the continent is still poor.

The former President said society is not transformed by the masses, but rather by good and committed leaders, citing Charles de Gaulle of France and Mao Dezong of China as typical case studies.

He commeded for a good work done, proclaiming that the book holds the key to the way we select our leaders in Africa.

The Minister for Defence Mr Owen Mark Woyongo in a speech read on his behalf by his predecessor, General Henry Smith lauded the author for using his experience in the military to put up the publication.

Maj-Gen Obed Akwa, Commandant of the Kofi Annan International PeaceKeeping Training Centre said the book would advance the course of national integration and development.

Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, Senior Research Fellow at the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy who reviewed the book encouraged the men and women of the GAF to use their experiences to write books.

Maj-Gen Adu-Amanfoh said the purpose of the book is to emphasize the need for national integration and unity, the bedrock of socio-economic development of any country.

The first copy of the book was bought by Mr Paul Afoko, Chairman of the New Patriotic Party for GH₵ 5,000, while Mr Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry bought the second copy at GH₵ 3,000.

The function was attended by politicians, academia, civil society organizations, the security forces, religious leaders and the public.