Former President Kufuor Calls For Transformational Leadership To Rescue Africa
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, has indicated that Africa’s problems which he described as provisional can be solved if transformational leaders are groomed to be at the helm of affairs.
According to President Kufuor, “it is in view of the urgent need for transformational leadership in Africa that he came with the idea of the John A. Kufuor Foundation under which first year students from the country’s universities are selected to benefit from a special scholars programme.
Addressing the induction of 30 new scholars of the Kufuor Scholars programme in Accra, Mr. Kufuor called on the inductees who will in the next three years or so benefit from an intensive orientation with emphasis on mentoring to be prepared to provide the needed transformational leadership Africa needs in future.
“Africa’s challenges are provisional and to bring about the needed transformation of the continent it has to start from your communities, your country and Africa. “ You can’t give what you don’t have “ He challenged them.
He continued, “You can’t give what you do not have to position yourself securely because my expectation is to see Africa move forward through a transformational leadership paradigm.”
The former President noted ,” It is because of this that you are being trained to be persons with integrity and my advice to you is that the light you have seen must shine for other to see it so follow strictly, the principle and values of integrity, transparency, accountability, patriotism and humility.
He tasked Scholars to,“Prove to be leaders of integrity at every place you may find yourselves. You are the change agents for the better. Keep your contacts, show integrity and be concerned about the public interest as ideals which should be fresher in all your thoughts. “He noted.
On the upcoming general elections, the former President urged the electorate to vote with integrity.
“You should be truthful to yourself because Africa needs people with integrity . ”He said.
This year’s batch of Kufuor Scholars are 30. Sixteen of them are women while the remaining 14 are men. They were drawn from seven universities both public and private across the country.
They are the fifth batch of beneficiaries of a programme which started five years ago.
The British High Commissioner, Iain Walker, who was the special guest of honour at the function urged the Scholars to be proud of the opportunity granted them. “You’ve been empowered to be a great leaders, so you have to be innovative, proactive , ethical and the expectant result is that you would be great leaders. “
“Your choice is to use your hands and heart to help humanity with your actions. “Mr. Walker admonished them.
So far, 112 men and women have been trained under the JAK Scholars programme..The induction event coincided with the graduation of the 2020 batch.’
The Foundation which has made a huge investment in training the scholars credits the initiation of three major projects. One of them is called “Cell not Hell.” Under it the Scholars have been able to refurbish a library at the Kumasi Prisons by stocking it with books.
According to Professor Agyemang Duah the CEO of the JAK Foundation, “the facility has been beneficial in helping the inmates who were candidates in this year’s WASSCE to perform creditably.”
“These are signs that our hopes and expectations would not be in vain with these projects some of the scholars have initiated. “ He observed.
Prof Agyemang Duah disclosed that out of the 103 beneficiaries representing 16 different universities, 56 are females while 47 are males. In selecting this year’s 30 beneficiaries, 2,290 applicants sent entries .