Former Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Prof. Agyemang Badu Akosa, says the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should be dissolved.
According to him, ECOWAS is of no use because it had lost focus and failed to address the pertinent issues bothering the sub-region.
Speaking at the launch of the Drolor Center for Strategic Leadership of the University of Professional Studies Accra, (UPSA), Prof. Akosa said the African Union (AU) should be maintained to champion the cause of Africa.
ECOWAS formed in 1975 to help trade among member states by easing movement restrictions. The regional bloc has seen political instability since its formation with Guniea Bissau the recent member state to return to democratic rule in 2014 after a coup. ECOWAS is currently chaired by Ghana’s President John Mahama is grappling with the deadly Ebola virus
He charged African leaders to think strategically to ensure adequate security, the creation of wealth, promotion of health and reduction of poverty on the African continent.
Prof. Akosa said Africa has all the natural resources yet the continent is poor, blaming the situation on bad leadership.
He said Africa needs strategic and selfless leaders who will always place the continent first against their personal interests.
“It is high time our leaders began to think Africa and do things that will benefit the continent. Africa must be our first priority in whatever agreement we enter with foreign partners”, he said.
Prof. Akosa said the challenge of Africa is nothing but the challenge of leadership, stating that “It is incumbent on Ghana as a beacon in the sub-region, to be an example and provide Africa with the requisite strategic leadership to help bring the continent to a new dawn where its people are able to respect lifestyles.”
Chancellor of UPSA, Nene Drolor Adamtey, said Africa could drive her own development and leadership agenda, stating that “We have vast resources and untapped potential to change the entire continent”.
Nene Adamtey said the Center for Strategic Leadership was established to groom proper leaders for the future and stands for high level executive leadership development in Africa’s accelerated development.