Former President John Agyekum Kufuor was awarded a honoris causa in Public Administration over the weekend by the Kwara State University, in Ilorin, Nigeria.
In accepting his award, the former president lamented the act of impunity and non-adherence to the rule of law on the part of leaders in the African continent. He said that such attitude portends a serious danger to the socio-economic and political stability of the continent.
“The democratic governance must be able to thrive in the continent. The leaders should emerge without any coercions.
“Leaders in Africa must ensure due process is taken into consideration on who emerges in the political parties’ primaries in order to assist the voters to elect their leaders.
“The electorate remain a major factor in good governance and hence there should be no infringement on their rights in order to promote good governance and stability.”
Ex president kuffour also said that Africa must be in search of enlightened and creative leaders in all spheres of life and in respective African countries to surmount present challenges and ensure exciting future in the continent.
The former Ghanaian president said that poor governance in the African continent came about through poor leadership and poor allocation of resources.
Kufuor, who called for true servant leadership among future African leaders, said that such leaders must have the grasp of geopolitics around them and resolve to render peaceful and prosperous service to ensure sustainable development in the continent.
“Future leaders in the continent must be made to know that true governance will be brought about with respect for the country and the people, respect for individuals and general humanity, which will make it possible for sustainable development to be achieved, while keeping corruption to the barest minimum. Such leaders do not happen by chance,” he said.
On the 2019 general election in Nigeria, President Kufuor advised that people must accept that democracy has come to stay in the country, saying that government should encourage participation by majority of the people.
“Nigeria is the most populous country in the continent. Whatever you do here reflects on the life and everything else on the African continent.
“So, my prayer is that the people of Nigeria will exercise their rights of choice in accordance with federal constitution to give themselves a sort of leader they desire. When they get such leader, they should ensure checks and balances system of government is respected by government and the media should be watchdog when things go awry. And that should be done according to law. Everything should be as decided or determined by the constitution,” he said.
Kufuor, who lauded the management of the Kwara State University for the honorary doctoral degree bestowed on him, promised to continue to continue with his humanitarian gesture so as to develop the African people.
At a special convocation ceremony of the Kwara State University, Malete the honorary doctoral degree in Public Administration was conferred on former president Kuffour.
