Kufuor Did Not Make Ghana HIPC - Dr. Adei

The Director General of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, (GIMPA) Dr. Stephen Adei says no one should make a mistake of thinking that President J.A. Kufuor made Ghana a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC). "We are a Heavily Indebted Poor Country already; he only admitted it," he said.

Dr. Adei said the challenge is that today's leaders must take us out of HIPC by moral, intelligent and visionary leadership and on sustainable development in the lifetime of Ghanaians, despite the grey hair of some of them.

Dr. Adei made these remarks at a three-day seminar in Accra last Friday marking the seventh anniversary celebrations of the Leadership Development Institute.

He said when a nation is blessed with quality leadership, irrespective of its starting point, that nation makes a breakthrough in one generation. "It is unpardonable that Ghana after 44 years of Independence out of which 41 percent were spent under one leadership... is still HIPC."

Dr. Adei said it goes beyond political leadership. The nation needs quality leadership for business houses, in the universities, in secondary schools and colleges.

He said Africans have a tendency to treat leaders as if they are immortal. Leaders must learn to hand over power gracefully or retire or step down from executive positions and train at least six other leaders to succeed them.

Speaking on the theme, "Effective Leadership and Management for National Productivity and Development", the President and Founder of Leadership Development Institute (LDI), Dr. Spencer Dancan said the vision of the institute is a holistic learner-centred institution which is committed to excellence in the field of progressive education, tailored to the specific needs of the learner.

He said his training at Haggai Institute in Singapore, challenged him to set up an institute, which would be committed to advancing the skills of potential national leaders, and grooming them for effective management of human as well as material resources.

The Chancellor for Central University College, Rev. Dr. Mensah Otabil who was the guest speaker told the participants that they need to explore the basis of changing people's understanding to be able to thrive as leaders.