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Poor leadership, bad governance and corruption stifling Africa’s development – Obasanjo
Former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo has ascribed Africa’s rising poverty and underdevelopment to poor leadership, bad governance, and massive corruption by high-powered people in government.
The leadership letdowns, he said, had occasioned the rising crass economic mismanagement of economies, diversity frictions, and political segregation, leading to a loss of confidence in state institutions’ ability to provide public services.
“It is unfortunate that in some countries where the gatekeeper is the thief, the countries could only be made safe and secured by God.
“…and that is the situation we find ourselves in some countries if not all countries in Africa.
Your dream of security is dashed when your gatekeeper is the one who is the chief thief,” the former President stated.The former President, who is also an African Youth and Governance Convergence (AYGC) Eminent Fellow, was speaking at the opening of the 25th Session of AYGC at Mankessim on Monday.
Attending the seven-day event are 65 delegates from 27 African countries and the USA and Canada.
It was arranged by the Youth Bridge Foundation on the theme: “Advancing youth inclusive governance, peace, and security: The digital innovation factor.
”The forum seeks to harness the potential of the youth to become responsible and participating citizens for sustainable development.
It also aims to equitably harness the potentials of the youth by equipping them with appropriate capacity and platforms and advocating for inclusion and responsiveness to youth development needs and rights.
Former President Obasanjo said economic and political inclusion, particularly of women, youth, minorities and other marginalised groups, remained a major challenge though some African economies have seen sustained growth over the past few decades.
Such economic growth trajectories, he said, had not benefited most people in many countries and had widened the gap between the rich and poor as corrupt officials display opulence with impunity.
“We are in bad shape because leaders and governance in African countries, particularly the sub-region, have not been what they should be.
“We may go as far back and blame our colonial power, slave trade, but those who brought those things upon us knew what they were doing,” he said and adding that it was for their economic interest but at our expense.
The former President of Nigeria told African leaders to take responsibility for poverty and under-development rather than blaming colonialism.
They should stop “making excuses” for ongoing economic problems in their countries, and to look for solutions within rather than blaming the past.
For more than 60 years, he said Africa overcame colonialism as well as slavery more than 150 years ago, so what then is the excuse to continually blame the slave trade for the Continent’s predicaments?
He alluded to what he described as the ”unfortunate state of affairs in Nigeria”, saying it had no all-embracing peace, no security, and was dominated by Boko Haram, insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, and organized criminals, human trafficking, arms trafficking, drug traffickers and money laundering.
In some cases, he indicated the powers that be, particularly some people in government at the highest level, were indirect participants, and encouragers and provided a haven for miscreants’ activities to fester.
Mr Julio de Mederios is with the Board of Foundation, a continental-oriented NGO committed to youth Inclusive and responsive development agenda.
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Communication Ministry To Train 3000 Girls This Year Under The Girls-In-ICT Initiative
The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations is set to train 3,000 girls under this year’s Girls-In-ICT Initiative.
The 2025 edition of the programme will expand its footprint to three key regions: Volta, Upper East and Upper West, with each region hosting 1,000 girls for in-person training sessions.
This marks a significant increase in reach and impact compared to previous years, where only 500 girls received face-to-face training while an additional 500 participated online.
By offering full in-person training to all participants this year, the Ministry aims to provide a more immersive and hands-on experience in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education.
The Minister, Samuel Nartey George (MP) revealed this when a team from TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) paid a courtesy call on him today in his office and expressed interest in supporting the Girls-In-ICT Initiative.
During the meeting, the TCS team led by the President-MEA, Sumanta Roy commended the Ministry for its efforts in promoting digital inclusion and bridging the gender gap in technology through the Girls-In-ICT programme.
They emphasized the alignment of the initiative with TCS’s global corporate social responsibility agenda, which includes advancing education, promoting digital skills, and empowering underrepresented groups, especially young women in the tech industry.
The Honourable Minister welcomed the interest shown by TCS and noted that strategic partnerships like this are essential to the sustainability and expansion of the initiative.
The Girls-In-ICT Initiative, one of the Ministry’s flagship programs, seeks to equip young girls with practical digital skills and introduce them to the vast opportunities within the ICT sector.
The initiative also aims to address gender disparity in STEM fields and encourage greater female participation in Ghana’s digital economy.
Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP) speaking about the 2025 rollout, stated: “This year’s program represents our commitment to building inclusive digital skills and creating future leaders in tech.
By expanding in-person sessions to all participants, we’re ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to learn, engage, and grow with hands-on support from professionals and mentors”.
Participants in this year’s training will receive instruction in coding, basic computer operations, cybersecurity and creative digital tools.
The programme also features mentorship sessions with women in tech, ICT competitions and career development workshops designed to build confidence and spark innovation among the girls.
According to the Minister, empowering girls today with ICT skills will transform communities and drive national development. The initiative is a key part of Ghana’s broader digital transformation agenda, which emphasizes equitable access to digital tools and education for all citizens.
About the Girls In ICT Initiative:
The Girls-in-ICT (GIICT) Initiative was introduced in Ghana in 2012. It is an initiative by the International Telecommunications Union to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider studies and careers in the growing field of ICT.
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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank
A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.
The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.
The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.
Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.
The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.
