What “Think-Tank” Is Not; Bring Sanity Into The Intellectual Platform Of Africa

Recently there is emergence of numerous think-tanks in the borders of Africa and dangerously escalating in numbers in the Political economic market of Ghana. I recently had a glimpse on a publication of a Ghanian Journalist on the need of Think-Tank to address technical issues coherently and pragmatically but used a complementing adjective like “Credible” to underscore the think-tank organizations in Ghana, brings to my attention the emergence of recent think-tanks lacking the qualities to meet standards of intellectual adjudication on issues, is quiet worrisome.

What you least know about think tank activities according to Meriam-Webster dictionary,

“It is an organization that consists of a group of people who think of new ideas on a particular subject or who give advice about what should be done”

“An Institute, corporation or group organized for interdisciplinary research as in technological and social problems”, sometimes called think factory.

Think-Tank Institute is not established and run as an undercover for fund raising or donor exploitation business. So if you have intention to start a think-tank ask yourself the following questions

1. Why do I need to establish this new think-tank
2. What challenges in the market do you seek to solve technically beyond the existing solutions
3. Do you have the technical team to address such identified loophole
4. What benefit do you stand to gain, especially when you are not a government affiliated or oriented think-tank agency to attain fund for your operations and administrative budget
5. If you have a sponsor, why is he/she interested in your think-tank vision and mission

When the above five outlined questions are not satisfactory and honestly answered by you as the leader, then think twice in your attempt to establish your think-tank to avoid disappointment and disgrace in the highest public order of your actions born by frustrations. The reason is simple, a Think-Tank establish to raise fund is seen by the public as a scam which may not easily be realized and notice by you per your assumption of being smart yet the language from the public speaks everything which may not get to your attention for your realization due to the degree of being soaked in your intentions

DEFINITION OF A QUALITY THINK TANK

1. Think-Tanks known as quality in their standard of operations has a clear vision and mandate which addresses a specific problem of the market and have client to buy into it.

1. Do you have the required expert to pursue the core mandate of your institute because you cannot establish health-think tank lacking medical doctors to pioneer the vision or establish an economic think-tank lacking competent economist on board or entrepreneurship think tank lacking competent Entrepreneurial practitioners on board.

1. Are the experts pioneering the mission operating on the grounds of love to see solutions and transformation emanate from their actions to the society or just joining the mission in their expectation of higher remuneration and materialistic pursuit? Because what you have to know is, think-tank operations could not replace profit-making companies….. object clause of pursuit, such will be deceptive and disappointment towards your goal

Finally need to realize that the journey of Think-Tank Business is pursued by those with the highest degree of love for knowledge pursuit and have the will to teach to exposed wisdom embedded in the content of knowledge, to save humanity selflessly to attain honor among the wisdom chamber of the Universe which is beyond materialistic interest and such a gift are not accessible to all destines, so be ware when you want to start a think-tank to avoid soiling your credibility because it is not a business for mediocrity.