Leadership is Africa’s problem – Kufuor

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has attributed Africa’s challenges to bad leadership, describing some leaders as assuming the reins of governance by chance.

“The real bane of our problems is leadership. Some leaders tend to come to office by chance. In local parlance, we say they came to office by heart.

“If we get the right leadership, we would have good governance, inclusive government and we would be sincere with each other and create the enabling environment. The secret is right leadership,” he said.

He made the observation when he introduced the main speaker, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy and former President of the World Bank, during a lecture themed, ‘What Must Africa Do To Claim The 21st Century’, organized by the Kufuor Foundation in Accra.

Africa’s Wealth

President Kufuor said Africa should not suffer as she is doing now when she sits on a trough of wealth, from natural to human resources.

Africa is today being courted by China, America and Europe, he said, adding that “our concern should be about a groomed leadership, sharpened acumen to stand eye to eye with others. Once we realize this the African Union’s call for partnership will be achieved. Without it however, we would be thrown back to neo-colonialism which we do not want."