Ghanaians asked to patronise local products

Mr Kenneth Ashigbe

Accra, April 18, GNA - Ghanaians have been urged to patronise local products and to support indigenous businesses, to facilitate the nation's rapid socio-economic development.

Mr Ken Ashigbe, Managing Director (MD) of Graphic Group of Communications Limited, advised Ghanaians to build networks and partnership.

'Let's stop the self-hatred of the Ghanaian. Yes let's welcome our brothers and sisters from other countries; they will come to compliment what we do. But it is only when we have Ghanaians at the helm of all industries that Ghana will develop,' he said.

Mr Ashigbe made the appeal in Accra at the weekend at a public lecture organised by the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), to mark its Management and Professional Day celebration.

The aim of the lecture was to prepare students; especially, the final year students for the world of work.

Speaking on the topic: 'Facing Your Career With Confidence,' the MD quoted one Arthur Robert Ashe, who said: 'One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation'.

Mr Ashigbe said: 'To be confident that you know what you want to achieve in your career, you need a clear career objective. It focuses you on what you are aiming at and gives you the drive to take initiatives that lead you to your career goal.'

He observed that career objective alone cannot help a person, and that the relevant set skills are also required.

'Beyond the formal training, talk to people in your field, who have experience more than you do. You may be good but somebody is definitely better than you. Seek knowledge from that person to increase yours,' he stated.

The MD urged the students to develop resilience for the ups and downs of life; which affects all facets of human endeavour.

'It is important to note though that you cannot be resilient if you do not have the ability to motivate yourself, because it is self-motivation that encourages you to go on when it seems that failure is staring you in the face, when things are though such that you begin to feel that your current capacity is not enough for your task,' Mr Ashigbe said.

He advised the upcoming professionals to admit their mistakes; any time they make one, examine the cause, correct them and mark them as pit falls they should always avoid.

The MD said setting success bench marks is very important in achieving career goals; stating that 'what standard you set also, in fact, points to your level of confidence in your ability to achieve greater heights'.

On integrity, Mr Ashigbe said, research by KRW International, a Minneapolis-based leadership consultancy, shows that Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), whose employees gave them high marks for character had average returns on assets (ROA) 9.35 per cent over a two-year period.

This was nearly five times as much as what those with low character ratings had; their ROA averaged only 1.93 per cent.

He said the researchers found integrity as one of the key character traits that set aside these virtuoso CEOs apart.

'You need integrity for your followers to follow you; you need it for your customers to give you their custom. Without integrity you will build empires that will crumble like the Enrons of our day. If you want to build a career that will last, build it on integrity,' the MD said.

He advised the students to start thinking innovatively about job creation, so that they would themselves become employers in the future.

Professor Goski Alabi, the Dean of School of Graduate Studies, UPSA in her presentation on the topic: 'Business Etiquette and Personal Grooming,' said life is beyond the academics and therefore, urged students to develop networking.

She took them through personal skills development, human, social and spiritual capitals, attitudes, table manners, how to present themselves to people; paying and receiving compliments and how to make proper introductions.

Professor Anthony K. Ahiawodzi, the Pro-Vice Chancellor, UPSA advised the students to be worthy ambassadors of the school.

He urged them to be innovative and to put into practice the knowledge they have acquired as professionals.

GNA