I read in your sister paper the Ghanaian Times, of odeneho a story on Akwamumanhene, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, on Thursday calling for Ghana’s educational system to place emphasis on  the promotion of customary rites as well as respect for culture.

According to him, it would enable future generations to understand and uphold the culture of the country while instilling leadership qualities in them.

Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III was speaking at the 60th anniversary celebration of Akosombo International School (AIS) in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region on the theme “Educating tomorrow’s leaders today.”

While admitting the linkage between education and leadership, he acknowledged that it played key roles in the success story of some great personalities such as immediate-past UK’ Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng; former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, former US President, Barrack Obama and Nelson Mandela of South Africa.

“Every one of these personalities was educated at some point in institutions where their skills were nurtured”

Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, buttressing why educating future leaders is paramount indicated that, “we must do so because it is essential to our survival as a nation” and argued that “we cannot afford to wait until these young people become adults before attempting to instil leadership qualities in them.”

He further stressed on the importance of promoting academic excellence, indicating, future leaders must be educated to be financially savvy, able to manage sustainable businesses, utilising technology and embracing innovation.

This, he noted, would make them curious about the world and its diverse peoples and cultures.

“The successful leader of the future is a holistic one with advanced soft and hard skills, who can respond to the demand for global collaboration, adapting quickly to a continuously evolving world,”

All indications in the country suggest that we must make a collective effort to train children in their formative years so that they would grow into selfless responsible citizens of this country. Ghana’s future needs such leaders!

Grace Thompson,

Accra.