On August 25, 2015, TedxAccra hosted its “After The Talk Discussions” on the topic “Leadership in Africa,” with panelists including Mohammed Issa, Abla Masopher, Mansa Ayisi-Okyere and motivational speaker Dr. Charles Buckman, who is also considered an authority on subjects such as networking, leadership and building effective relationships.
Whilst the discussion between the panelists and audience traveled to various angles of the leadership spectrum, it became apparent that leadership in Africa must start from the bottom up and at an early stage, at the academic level as well as in the home.
Dr. Buckman shared some personal experiences he has had with strangers and even his own family, stating how individual attitudes or behaviors were key determinants of leadership capabilities.
“Look around you,” he asserted, “What is the problem? What can you do to solve it?”
He also mentioned the often overlooked power of native intelligence and how Africa fails to tap into this with locals.
On the good, bad and ugly patterns in role models, he remarked: “Personalities change, principles stay the same,” meaning that a true leader must possess strong principles that are constant and that which guide his/her actions.
A question about the role for females in leadership drew a response from Mansa Ayisi-Okyere, Executive Secretary for African Entrepreneurs Hub: “It can’t be all female, it can’t be all male. There has to be a balance.”
Indeed. The discussions picked up the importance of having women in leadership and empowering them from a very young age to be able to assume responsibilities that accompany such roles.
“We’re all interconnected and yet we don’t help each other,” added Entrepreneur and Personal Coach, Mohammed Issa. “How do we take more initiative to interconnect with one another?”
The TedxAccra monthly “After The Talk Discussions” is hosted every last Tuesday of the month to continue discussions from the main TedxAccra event to spread ideas worth sharing.