Call on youth to get right attitude

Published in the Daily Graphic on 6/03/2010, pg 6

Story: Matilda Attram
THE right attitude is not only a requisite for successful leadership but also an essential factor in the success of any field of human endeavour, says the former Minister of Defence, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor.
He said although a right attitude was required from a leader, it was only an ingredient to success, as wisdom was the main key to all fields.
“There are those who are of the opinion that Ghana has not done as well as expected over the years because many people in leadership positions lack the correct attitude,” he stated.
Dr Kufuor was speaking at a memorial lecture organised by the Accra Diocesan Council of the Anglican Young People’s Association (AYPA) in Accra.
It was on the theme, ‘Good Attitude: A Requisite for Successful Leadership’.
It was part of the association’s annual week celebration in honour of the Founder of the association, Bishop Aruna Kojo Nelson.
It was to portray the founder’s values for the Anglican Church to the youth.
Dr Kufuor, who was the guest speaker for the occasion, said one needed more than the correct attitude to succeed as a leader, adding “You need wisdom; the attribute Solomon asked of the Lord at the beginning of his reign as King of Israel.”
According to him, leadership connoted power, authority, honour, financial well-being, prestige and personal advantage.
He stated that one also needed intelligence, as well as a focused life, with the application of selflessness in a chosen career to reach the top in the world of politics, business, academia, among other professions.
“At the heart of every successful leadership is the spirit of sacrifice. A leader must learn to ‘give up’ in order to ‘go up’ and must set good examples too,” stated Dr Kufuor.
The National President of AYPA, Mr Emmanuel Nii Armah Tackie, said the celebration allowed Anglican youth to unite, as well as socialise, to enhance the development of the Anglican Church in the country.
He said the youth, through the association, had acquired leadership skills to take up responsibilities in the church and the country as a whole.
“Most AYPA members have lived up to expectations. We have some as Parochial Church Council members, Synod members, Chalice assistants and priests,” he stated.
Reacting to the purpose of the theme for the celebration, Mr Tackie pointed out that there was the need to support the youth to transform into good leaders who could face the challenges of the future.
Bishop Aruna Nelson was said to be a committed, hardworking member of the Anglican Church in the country and beyond.