Former President John Dramani Mahama has advised African leaders not to overstay their welcome, especially after their constitutional tenures end.
He said given the current development needs of Africa, leaders who can act with a sense of urgency are supposed to be at the helm of affairs.
Ghana’s former president made these remarks at the 2017 Africa Development Conference held at the Harvard University, USA on Saturday, April 1.
The two-day event, which began on Friday, is under the auspices of the Harvard African Student Organisations.
Former President Mahama talked about the toll climate change is having on the continent but indicated, more importantly, that the leaders must be up and doing.
“We need leadership that can forge ahead with a greater sense of urgency because Africa is a continent in a hurry.”
He advocated a principle for leadership on the continent.
“You come, you serve, you go. That is what democracy is and should be the principle for Ghana and Africa’s leaders.”
He said leaders who lose elections must hand over. “It should be the norm in Africa.”
He pointed out that the youth appear to be more fired up to take over from the current crop of leaders.
“I have no doubt that we have the kind of human material to take over from my generation,”explaining: “Our young people want to see visible improvements. All of us must be committed to making sure our continent progresses.”
He added: “We need to have confidence that the next generations can come in and do even better than we have done”. He advocated intra-Africa trade as the starting point for turning economies of the continent around. “I have been a strong advocate for the removal of customs barriers across the continent. We must work at it.”
Source: 3news
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Of all the qualities that is needed to solve the huge problems facing this continent, our EX-president think "urgency" is the most important? He left out Corruption of African leaders, ***barred word***, selfishness of our leaders, and the insensitivity of our leaders to the suffering of the Average Citizen? Urgency? Is that why he speedily amassed so much wealth by awarding contracts with highly inflated costs to family and friends, telling Ghanaians that he is developing the Infrastructure base of this country? You will really be remembered JDM, by the future generations. God is our Supreme Judge of us all. Keep on
John Mahama came created, l0.0ted and shared.
The organisations that invite this man to talk;are they sure they know what they are dealing with?The headline of this story should be ',Come ,Really no need to serve at all ,L00t as much as you can and buy the next election if possible.
Ex president kaafey amadan!. The margin of your lost was so wide, you just had to giveinn. That what happens when 75% of the youth are educated but unemployed. After 4 years we will judge NPP same
It appears these corrupt and ***barred word*** politicians revive their common sense after they have been booted out of power. They say all these nice things to people but they fail to implement any one of them whilst in power. What is wrong with this picture? Is this monkey politics. Every one is stealing from the public purse. From parliamentarians to CEOs. At the end of the day there will be nothing left in the public purse. Any one wondering why Ghana does not get the needed direct foreign aid? Simply because foreign partners do not trust our corrupt politicians. Mahama and his NDC cronies are behaving like angels now that they have been kicked out of office. Sheikh Akufo Addo and his so called Delta Force have also become lawless. With nominees paying their way to clear parliament , what is left for Ghana now is left to be seen. Can anyone put some brakes on the speed of corruption inflicting the country and draining the swamp from the public purse?
You mean come and serve, creating, ***barred word*** and sharing and then go right, kwasiakwa......where is the ghana money stolen by you and hidden in dubai, the $35 million dollars peace keeping money you nearly stole after losing the elections. You are the most ***barred word*** president ghana has ever had and history will always note that