Africa needs courageous visionary leadership

Accra, March 21, GNA - Participants at an international governance think-tank forum in Accra on Sunday identified courageous visionary leadership as a panacea for Africa's economic enslavement. There was unanimity among the participants of the need for Africa to attract the calibre of courageous visionary leaders who stood and fought for political independence from colonialism, to lead another crusade against the forces of marginalisation and neo-colonization. The participants made up of lecturers, economists, politicians, journalists, representatives of non-governmental organizations said such leaders should also be mindful of the interests of the people when undertaking international assignments.

The forum organized by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) was on the theme: "A World Apart, A Common Problem: How Do We Create Stability Around the Globe".

Speaking on "International Governance," Ms Ruby Quantson, Programme Coordination Officer of IDEG, noted that there was an inter-relationship in the nature of policies worldwide especially that of the developed world and the rest of the world.

"We are constantly affected by events halfway around the globe (that) give jobs to the people on one continent and see the people go hungry in another. let stock markets fluctuate on the other side of the international dateline and our savings account, if we have any, rise and fall with them."

Ms Quantson said centuries of success and ingenuity in science, technology and commerce had not been able to insulate and isolate any nation from the effects of ancient diseases, hunger, oppression, war and degradation of nature.

She said problems faced by humankind did not start and stop at the borders of any nation, as the world was still littered with problems of epidemics, food, protecting human rights and preventing wars. The IDEG Programmes Coordinating Officer called for a collaborative worldwide approach for the creation of a stable political, economic and social order.

Dr Lehlohonolo Tlou, a Senior Research Fellow of IDEG, called for the use of worldwide resources to feed and keep people healthy and protect people from harm and injustice.

The participants deliberated on several issues including alternative approaches to feeding the hungry, healing the sick and protecting natural resources.