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Wed, 15 Jan 2025 Communiqué

Communique Issued At The End Of The 1st International Conference On African Mindset Transformation And System Thinking

By Global Institute for Mindset Transformation and Attitudinal Change (GIMTAC)
Communique Issued At The End Of The 1st  International Conference On African Mindset Transformation And  System Thinking

Communique Issued At The End Of The 1st International Conference On African Mindset Transformation And

System Thinking
Theme: Renewing the African Mindset towards Sustainable Development of Africa

Date: 12th - 15th November 2024.
Venue: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi – Ghana.

Organizers: Global Institute for Mindset Transformation and Attitudinal Change (GIMTAC)

In partnership with:
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

- State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA)

- Office of the Diaspora Affairs, Jubilee House

- Spear Institute
- AfCFTA Policy Network.
Preamble
We, the participants of the 1st International Conference on African Mindset Transformation and System Thinking, gathered at KNUST from 12th to 15th November 2024, recognize that the prevailing mindsets among Africans have hindered growth and development of the continent and there is the critical need to transform our collective mindsets and actions to drive Africa's sustainable development.

We take cognizance of the fact that Africa is endowed with remarkable resources and assets, including:

  • Over 20% of the Earth’s total land area,
  • 27% of the world’s 195 countries,
  • A youthful population, with 70% under the age of 30 and a median age of 18 years,
  • 18% of the global population, accounting for 1.37 billion people,
  • 90% of the Global deposit of Uranium,
  • 40% of the global deposit of Gold,
  • 30% of the world’s Global deposit of timber,
  • 90% of cobalt
  • 70% of cocoa
  • 92% of Platinum, and
  • 80% of Chromium,

Nevertheless, many of the people of the continent are among the poorest in the world.

Observations
We deliberated and concluded that certain prevailing mindsets and attitudes have been the main causes of the slow growth and development of the continent. They include the following:

  • Poor and unethical leadership,
  • Indecisiveness and delayed decision-making by authorities,
  • Selfishness, corruption and rent-seeking mindset - "what-is-in-it-for-me" syndrome,
  • Inadequate belief in ourselves and low appreciation of our products,
  • Acceptance of mediocrity, low standards and values,
  • Tribalism, partisanship and divisive tendencies,
  • A defeatist ‘Can’t do’ mindset,
  • Resistance to new ideas, entrepreneurship, and innovation,
  • Abuse of trust and increasing mistrust for each other,
  • Resistance to transparency and accountability at all levels,
  • Jealousy, retrogressive and ‘pull-him-down’ attitude and preference for foreigners to compatriots,
  • Poor work ethics, conduct and unprofessionalism,
  • Dependency and entitlement mentality, and
  • Poor implementation of plans, programmes and projects, and weak maintenance culture.

We also observed that the afore-mentioned mindsets and attitudes can be attributed to the following:

  • Poverty – A large proportion of the populace struggle for basic needs which fuels short-term and immediate survival induced thinking.
  • Weak socialization – Limited emphasis on critical thinking, self-confidence, and innovation during formation processes, resulting in weak values, defeatist attitudes and inadequate belief in oneself.
  • Poor Governance Systems and Practices – contradictory customary and constitutional laws that hinder complementarity, efficiency and progress.
  • Traditional and religious hinderances - Customs and practices that discourage questioning authority or embracing change.
  • Deference to Authority – Cultural practices that encourage undue submission to authorities, even when they are unethical, corrupt and counter-productive. This perpetuates poor leadership, mediocrity and impunity. Seeking to be politically correct and appease authorities has led to the sacrifice of 'truth' in the name of 'respect for elders'
  • Lack of Accountability – inadequate scrutiny and demand for accountability from authorities.
  • Weak Educational Systems – Weak educational systems and curricula that focuses on memorization, short-term learning against long-term growth, adoption of multiple-choice questions forms of examination due to large class sizes, instead of competency, analysis and problem-solving based approach.
  • Civil Wars and Conflicts on the Continent – Persistent tribal and religious conflicts aggravating mistrust, instability, underdevelopment, poverty and depletion of human and natural resources.

We acknowledged that these mindsets and associated causes can have the following adverse effects:

  • Distorted Mindset, Values and Principles - Exposure to environments where negative mindsets and attitudes thrive leads to an erosion of ethical beliefs and values. People thus become accustomed to wrong-doing and a culture of impunity.
  • Increased Corruption and Injustice – Poor governance leading to abuse of power for personal gains/interest, misuse of scarce national or organisational resources, distrust in public institutions and officials, reinforcing attitudes of selfishness against national or general interests i.e. “what-is-in-it-for-me” syndrome.
  • Weak institutions - poor leadership, weak corporate governance practices, lack of accountability, and entrenched corruption ultimately weaken the effectiveness of institutions.
  • Economic Stagnation and Underdevelopment - Poor institutional management and work ethics, misuse of resources, ineffective implementation of policies, plans and programmes, weak assessment and inadequate sanctioning for non-compliance, contribute to poor economic performance.
  • Loss of Skilled Workforce: Mediocrity and lack of meritocracy, resistance to innovation is driving skilled individuals to seek opportunities abroad (brain drain”).
  • Social Fragmentation: Tribalism, religion differences and partisanship undermine communal and national unity and make collective development efforts difficult.
  • Environmental Challenges: Selfishness, greed, desire for short-term gains and poor environmental regulation and management exacerbate resource depletion and environmental degradation e.g. illegal mining (galamsey) and pollution of our water bodies.

Call for Action - Proposed Interventions:

We hereby propose the following targeted interventions and urge governments, institutions, organizations, and individuals to pursue them diligently:

  • Ethical Leadership and Institutional Strengthening: Qualified and competent persons of integrity should be appointed to run key institutions, especially public ones, to ensure good corporate governance practices and success, and to serve as example for private institutions. Institutional and political leaders should be challenged to lead by example and subjected to strict scrutiny to ensure transparency, accountability and productive performance, while fostering collaboration with all relevant partners.

  • Educational Reforms: The educational system should shift from memorization to a pragmatic one that promotes Critical Thinking, Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Approach, and Innovation. Capacities of training institution and trainers should be strengthened at all levels, including civic and adult education, to inculcate a transformed mindset founded on appreciation of our worth and self-determination in all spheres of life. It should include strengthening our core values, principles and virtues such as patriotism, trustworthiness, equality and equity, as well as eliminating all forms of prejudices. Positive Mindset and Moral Education should constitute the basis of our education system at home and in schools, stressing on African culture, languages and good traditional values and principles.

  • Socialization of the African Child and Youth: Children and the youth should be socialized in learning environments (home and school) that open their minds to moral and ethical conduct, rooted in moral education, the pursuit of excellence, and a deep respect for African values. This should begin at home by strengthening family and communal values. Thus, the formation of the African child involves all – parents, family, communities and teachers, and by aligning efforts at home, in schools, and within communities, we can nurture a generation equipped with the attitudes and skills needed to drive Africa’s development.

  • Streamlined Customary and Constitutional Laws: Contradictions between various laws in the country and sections of the constitution, especially between customary and political administrative laws should be identified and addressed. This would eliminate needless conflicts, litigations, waste of resources and the related impact on the development process of the country.

  • Leverage on Technology: Institutions and individuals should leverage on prevailing technological advancement to improve their efficiency, effectiveness and profitability, where applicable. Related security and health precautions should be taken to avoid any hazards, especially in the acquisition and deployment of Artificial intelligence (AI).

  • Economic Empowerment: Develop programmes to reduce poverty through skills training, entrepreneurship support, and equitable access to resources. Promote patronage of “Made in Africa” products to increase appreciation for local products and industries, fostering a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship and self-reliance hinged on inclusive economic growth, social justice and environmental sustainability.

  • Cultural and Mindset Change Campaigns: Pursue cultural awareness programmes to challenge negative mindsets and attitudes, focusing on self-belief, innovation and collective progress, using success stories of African innovators, inventors and achievers.

  • Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution: Strengthen local, national and regional mechanisms to prevent and resolve conflicts, furthering community dialogue to rebuild trust and cohesion.

  • Youth & Women Engagement: Leverage on Africa’s youthful population by promoting leadership and mentorship programs that encourage youth participation in decision-making processes. Empower women, youth, and marginalized communities through equitable access to opportunities and resources, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to societal progress. Efforts must also focus on dismantling cultural and societal barriers to gender equality and promote inclusivity.

  • African Unity: Develop an African mindset that appreciates African Unity and Oneness through educational, cultural and economic programmes e.g. AfCFTA initiative and intra-African cultural exchange programmes. An in-depth study and promotion of the beauty and power of the cultural diversity on the continent should also be pursued across the Region. Furthermore, adoption of a common currency and encouraging multi-lingual studies in our educational institutions should be deemed critical in tackling trade and language barriers. These would enhance cross-national ties and facilitate the realisation of the continent's full economic, political, social and educational potential.

  • Effective Media Engagement and Usage: Engage the media to ensure positive narrative on Africa. National Media Commission and other institutions should ensure responsible journalism and project a positive image of Africa and its citizens, especially women and the youth.

Key Resolutions:
To this end, we resolve to launch the movement for Enhancing the African Mindset and Attitude for Sustainable Development of the Continent at all Levels, to spearhead the above proposed interventions and pursue the following:

  1. Promote a positive mindset and attitudinal development that prioritize collective progress over individual gains.
  2. Advocate for comprehensive child development, covering physical, mental, cultural, moral, educational, intellectual and emotional dimensions, etc.
  3. Ensure implementation of laws and policies that address educational inadequacies, systemic poverty and weak governance.
  4. Demand transparent, accountable and ethical leadership at all levels.
  5. Support grassroots mindset and positive attitudinal transformation to strengthen community unity, build resilience and ensure sustainable development.
  6. Commit to continuous stakeholder engagement and leverage on strong media partnerships to expedite mindset and attitudinal transformation on the continent, and
  7. Institute strong and efficient monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure proposed interventions are implemented effectively.

NEXT STEPS:
Towards enhancing mindset and attitudinal change on the continent, we pledge to undertake the following:

  1. Establish a Mindset Renewal Network for continuous dialogue,
  2. Organize regional conferences and workshops,
  3. Develop policy briefs and recommendations, and
  4. Launch a continental mindset awareness and transformation campaign.

CONCLUSION:
We solemnly declare and commit to positive transformation of mindsets and attitudes on the continent to drive Africa's sustainable development, embracing our collective responsibility.

We agree to remain steadfast in our resolve to change the African mindset from one of dependency to that of self-sufficiency and become a global player and partner of choice. We will collaborate, innovate, and hold ourselves accountable.

SIGNATORIES:

Prof. De-Graft Owusu-Manu, Chairman, GIMTAC/KNUST. Signed Dr. Christian Sewordor Mensah, Co-Chairman, GIMTAC Signed
Dr. Kenneth A. Donkor-Hyiaman, GIMTAC/KNUST. Signed Mr. Prince Aboagye Anokye, GIMTAC/KNUST. Signed
Mr. John Boadu, SIGA. Signed Mr. Eric Albert Opoku, SIGA. Signed
Mr. Abraham Dwumah Odoom, Development Consultant Signed Mr. Stephen Asiedu, SIGA Signed
Rtd Rev (Prof) Safo Katanka, Bishop Kantanka Institute of Transformative Leadership Signed Mrs. Susana Asamoah Esq, KNUST Signed
Dr (Mrs). Leslie Casley-Hayford, Associate for Change. Signed Mr. Louis Yaw Afful, APN Policy Network. Signed
Mr. Robert Kwasi Atsrim, Spear Institute/FEDEMS. Signed Mrs. Matilda Owusu-Manu GIMTAC/Training Innovations Signed
Mrs. Doreen Asumang Yeboah Rights and Advocacy Network Signed Prof. Kwame Asamoah, University of Ghana. Signed
Prof. Samuel Afrane, Christian Service University. Signed Aps. Samuel Gyau Oboubi, Church of Pentecost Signed
Dr. (Mrs.) Ama Birago Gyimah Bishop Kantanka Institute of Transformative Leadership Signed Nana (Dr.) Kofi Antwi II, Valley View University. Signed
Mr. Atta Kuffour Junior, Africa Silicon Valley University Signed Dr. Isaac Okyere, KNUST. Signed
Dr. Daniel McKorley, McDan Group of Companies Signed Prof. (Mrs.) Abigail Gura, Takoradi Technical University Signed
Ms. Latoya Wilson, Wilson Career Consultancy, USA Signed Rev. (Prof) Joseph Ignatius Teye Buertey , Pentecost University Signed
Mr. Richard Asante-Amoah CEO StratGroup and Lead Executive CISCM Signed Rev. Angela Carmen Appiah, President, Institute of Directors-Ghana Signed
Dr. Fareed Arthur AfCFTA National Coordinating Office Signed Prof. Clifford Amoako KNUST Signed
Prof. John Owusu, Koforidua Technical University Signed Ing. (Prof) Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, Sunyani Technical University Signed
Prof. Gabriel Nani, KNUST Signed Prof. Charles Peprah, KNUST Signed
Rev. Emmanuel Yirebi, PIWC-Asokwa, Kumasi Signed Dr. Stephen Takyi, KNUST Signed
Prof. Edward Owusu, Sunyani Technical University Signed Dr. Michael Adesi KNUST Signed
Prof. Richard Ohene Asiedu Koforidua Technical University Signed Mrs. Adjaloo Dinah Abena Smiles Health Care & Relief Services Signed
Mr. Jermaine Nkrumah Diaspora Council, Accra Signed Prof. Zakari Mustapha Cape Coast Technical University Signed
Rev. Kofi Aidoo, Generations Chapel, Accra Signed Prof. Prince Osei- Wusu Adjei, KNUST Signed
Nana (Prof). S.E Edusah KNUST Signed Dr. Yaw Amo Sarpong KNUST Signed
Mr. Percy Anaab Bukari, Ghana Institute of Planners Signed Arc. Foster Osae-Akonnor Ghana Institute of Architects Signed

DATE: 15th November 2024.

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