Features
Leadership of excellence required in Africa
The National House of Chiefs operating in the kingdom of Ali Baba community was made up of various leaders who did what they could to develop their kingdom. The kingdom was made up of 12 villages, each under a leader or chief who was expected to develop his own village with the support of his own people.
They came together in form of a group to form a National House of Chiefs like what we have in Ghana today. Some of the chiefs were very progressive but others were not because they could not influence their subjects to move along with them for the betterment of society. Many others were also discouraged from pursuing vigorous agenda geared towards the ultimate goal of progressive development.
HANDFUL OF LEADERS
There were a handful of leaders within that National House of Chiefs who worked so hard that their communities were soon to be seen as exemplary when compared with other communities in that kingdom. It may sound strange to speak of a kingdom with several chiefs spearheading their affairs of each community and thereby bringing them together in form of a National House of Chiefs.
That was their own choice and if they were satisfied with that arrangement, no one from another area could begrudge them. In other words, if they found the arrangement suitable to their own interests and development, they were not prepared to accept any criticism from any quarters. Africa constitutes one large kingdom in a sense but there are many countries that form part of this continent.
CONTINENTAL DREAM
This explains why the early leaders of the continent under Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta and many others found it necessary to dream of one continent in form of a United States of Africa. This could not go beyond the envisaged dream as a result of which the continent is still fragmented into different countries even though many Africans believe that one large “Kingdom” or continent could have been to the benefit of all Africans.
WHY WAS THIS NOT MADE POSSIBLE?
The colonial interests manipulated many of the African leaders at the time even though some of them were genuinely committed to the idea of one continental “Kingdom”. Again, some of the leaders at the time were more influenced by their parochial passion of not letting go the small area over which they were ruling as leaders.
Perhaps, they preferred to be called presidents of smaller areas instead of falling into the larger vision of one kingdom, after giving out parts of their own countries, for the common good in line with the entire continental interest of the African “Kingdom”.
Today, each of the states in Africa has realised the need to fight for this “Kingdom”, thereby influencing one another to trade among themselves in form of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA, as is well known, forms the largest trading bloc in the whole world. It is meant to accelerate intra-African trade and boosting Africa’s trading position in the global market by strengthening Africa’s common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations.
NUMEROUS CONTINENTAL CHALLENGES
In view of the numerous challenges the African continent faces today, there is no doubt that the leadership style in Africa is required to be propelled to higher levels where excellence would become the hallmark of performance to bring in the desired good governance, progress and economic development.
This is due to the availability and also abundance of natural resources on the continent. To be able to achieve smooth continental economic recovery and growth, a set of certain fundamentals will have to be put in place by each African country. One of them is getting sound programmes in place for rapid economic growth.
NEED FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE
Good governance is what we need as a solution to the problems in Africa. Peace and security challenges are largely the manifestation of governance challenges such as how we manage our elections. When it comes to issues relating to terrorism, diversity management, socio-economic development and other related matters, they are all about governance.
In Ghana, President Nana Akufo-Addo has been able to put in place projects like One-Village, One-Dam; One-District, One-Factory and others like Planting/Rearing for Food and Jobs. All these will take some time – not too long though – before results can be seen and/or experienced. What is important now is that Ghana is on the right path of economic recovery.
ECONOMICALLY UNPALATABLE SITUATION
President Nana Akufo-Addo came into office when things were economically unpalatable, or that the country was in a situation that was, and still is, very difficult so we cannot overcome every problem immediately.
The free SHS, for example, has helped enrollment at the second cycle level to increase from 52 per cent to 85 per cent. This is quite remarkable and will have a positive impact on the socio-economic development of the country soon.
Again, the increase in the supply of maize and other foodstuffs as a result of the planting for food and job programme, among others, are meant to put the economy in shape and lessen the burden of Ghanaians soon. What we need to do now is to be patient and positively participate in the national development programme to bring about the expected result in line with our national development agenda.
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
The path to national economic recovery is not an easy one so we expect every person to support the government to ensure that at the end of the day all of us become beneficiaries of all the programmes that have been put in place for our common good. Standing aloof and unreasonably criticising every good thing planned for the country will not help us in any way.
It is in the light of all this that not long ago Ghana’s President was named as Africa’s best President by virtue of a poll conducted by a Canadian-based research organisation known as “Leaders of Tomorrow”. Additionally, Forbes Africa magazine, only a week ago, named President Akufo-Addo as its African of the Year. In view of the positive leadership style and progress being made in Ghana, some citizens on the continent have openly expressed the wish that their preference would have been to have Nana Akufo-Addo as President of their country.
POSITIVE POLICIES
It is the belief of the Canadian research team that since President Akufo-Addo won the 2016 election in Ghana, he has been the man of the people with high approval rating for his positive policies such as the Free Senior High School Education, Planting for Food & Jobs, One-District-One-Dam, National Builders Corps (NABCO) and other initiatives to generate employment, among others.
It has also been pointed out by the research team that the Ghanaian President is highly committed to the development of the country, stands strongly against corruption and has great respect for good governance and the rule of law. This, they say, has placed President Akufo-Addo first on the list in Africa and third in the world of the best presidents with vision.
Forbes, in a statement, said “Ghana’s President has repositioned the country in the global marketplace as one reliant on its own resources and strengths.” Extolling the virtues of President Akufo-Addo, which led to Forbes awarding him the prestigious African of the Year crown, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, said: “We are proud of this recognition, Your Excellency, because it speaks of your commitment, it speaks of your creativity, your innovation, and your clear strategic vision of what should happen in your own country, as well as on our beloved African continent.”
Ghanaians in particular and Africans in general ought to be proud of this great achievement because it goes to show that after all, with the needed commitment, zealousness and/alacrity, the African is capable of managing his or her own affairs as it was pointed out by Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Africa must progress to a higher level, but can the continent ever make it to the top? Yes, it can. And this is where good governance must become a priority. The rest of the continent must emulate Ghana to overcome seeming economic challenges.
Consistently promoting good governance in Africa – rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, consensus oriented, equity and inclusiveness, effectiveness and efficiency, accountability, participation – is what the continent needs now to get there!
Contact email/whatsApp of author:
pradmat2013@gmail.com (0553318911)
BY DR. KOFI AMPONSAH-BEDIAKO
Attention-Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often mistaken for laziness or indiscipline. In consulting rooms across Accra and in reports from school teachers, the pattern repeats: children who are bright but forgetful, parents who feel helpless, teachers who see incompleteness.
Research is clear-Barkley (2015) and others describe ADHD as a difference in the brain’s regulation of alertness, impulse and working memory, not a lack of effort.
The family’s role begins with structure. Regular sleep, predictable meal and homework times, and a simple visual list (uniform → books → water → corridor) provide the external scaffolding of these children need. Praise what is completed—“You opened the book and wrote the first sentence”-instead of rebuking what is missing.
Schools can help by seating the child front-row and centre, giving short written plus verbal instructions, allowing brief movement breaks, using quiet nonverbal cues and, where possible, grading effort and method as well as neatness. These adjustments reduce conflict and raise submission rates without lowering standards.
Couples and caregivers should share roles: one grounds, one pivots, and both protect rest. Shame-“bad parenting, bad child”-needs replacing with fact: different wiring, needs scaffolding.
Outcomes improve not by promises of perfection but by daily routines, clear limits and warmed connection. One homework slot kept, one instruction chunked, one calm repair after blurting-these small wins shift the family climate and let the child be seen beyond the label.
Resource
• CPAC (award-winning Mental Health and Counselling Facility): 0559850604 / 0551428486
Source: REV. COUNSELLOR PRINCE OFFEI’s insights on special needs support, relationships, and mental health in Ghana. He is a leading mental health professional, lecturer, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, renowned author, and marriage counsellor at COUNSELLOR PRINCE & ASSOCIATES CONSULT (CPAC COUNSELLOR TRAINING INSTITUTE) – 0551428486 /0559850604.
WEBSITES:
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/author
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/website
After two weeks of hectic activity up north, I drove to the Tamale airport, parked the car at the Civil Aviation car park as usual, paid the usual parking fee and boarded the plane for Accra.
Over the last two weeks, I had shuffled between three sites where work was close to completion.
One was a seed warehouse, where farmers would come and pick up good quality maize, sorghum and other planting material.
The other was a health facility for new mothers, where they were given basic training on good nutrition and small scale business.
And the third was a set of big boreholes for three farming communities.
The projects usually ran on schedule, but a good deal of time was spent building rapport with the local people, to ensure that they would be well patronised and maintained.
It was great to be working in a situation where one’s work was well appreciated. But it certainly involved a lot of work, and proactivity. And I made sure that I recorded updates online before going to bed in the evening.
When the plane took off, my mind shifted to issues in Accra, the big city. The young guys at my office had done some good work. They had secured five or six houses on a row in a good part of the city, and were close to securing the last.
When we got this property, unusually, Abena greeted them casually, and appeared to be comfortable in the guy’s company.
I was quite disappointed to hear that, because until the last few weeks, it seemed as if Abena and I were heading in a good direction. Apart from the affection I had for her, I liked her family. I decided to take it easy, and allow things to fall in whatever direction.
Normally I would take a taxi to her house from the airport, and pick her up to my place. This time I went to my sisters’ joint, where they sat by me while I enjoyed a drink and a good meal.
“So Little Brother,” Sister Beesiwa said, “what is it we are hearing about our wife-to-be?”
“When did you conclude that she was your wife-to-be? And what have you heard? I’ve only heard a couple of whispers. Ebo and Nana Kwame called to say that they have seen her in the company of—”
“Well said Little Brother,” Sister Baaba said. “By the way, Nana Kwame called an hour ago to ask if you had arrived because he could not reach you. Someone had told him that Jennifer had boasted to someone that she had connected Abena to a wealthy guy who would take care of her.”
I was beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.
“In that case,” Sister Beesiwa said, “you should be glad that Abena is out of your way. She is easily swayed. Anyone who would make a relationship decision based on a friend’s instigation lacks good sense. I hope the guy is as wealthy as they say?”
“Who gets wealthy running a supermarket chain in Ghana?” Sister Baaba said. “Our supermarkets sell mostly imported products. Look at the foreign exchange rate. And remember that Ghanaians buy second-hand shoes and clothes. Supermarkets are not good business here. Perhaps they are showing off that they are wealthy, but in reality they are not doing so well.”
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.”
She said that David Forson was only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her. And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. We would be able to sell all five houses to one big corporate customer, and we had already spoken to a property dealer who was trying to find a buyer in order to get a good commission.
That was going to be my biggest break. I had asked the boys to look for a large tract of land on the outskirts of the city where we could develop our own set of buildings, blocks of storey houses and upscale apartments. Things were going according to plan, and I was quietly excited. However, things were not going so well regarding my relationship with Abena.
My buddies Ebo and Nana Kwame had called to say that they met Abena and her friend Jennifer enjoying lunch with a guy, and Ebo believed that Jennifer was ‘promoting’ an affair between Jennifer and the guy. They were of the view that the promotion seemed to be going in the guy’s favour, because only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her.
And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“As I’ve already said, I will stop by her place, but I will mind my own business from now. Hey, let’s talk family. How are our parents? And my brothers-in-law? And my nephews and nieces? Why don’t we meet on Sunday? I’m going to drop my bags at my place, and go to see Mama and Dad.”
