Introduction
Leadership is a critical ingredient, necessary for national cohesion, direction, nation building and national development. The times in which we are, call for very stable and experienced hands at the helm of national affairs across African nations. At no time is the issue of leadership more critical than today.
Africa has come a long way since the 1960s when its constituent countries fought for independence from colonial powers that were unwilling to let them go. The case of the Francophone countries has often been discussed in several papers and programmes. The picture painted has been one of considerable efforts to keep Africa not only marginalised relative to the World Economic Order but subjugated to the extent where it is reliant on the so-called developed West for handouts.
The digital revolution, occasioned by the development of technology and significant access, especially to smart mobile telephones has seen a transformation in the way news and information generally are transmitted to the millions of people across Africa. Comparative analysis of national issues with international perspectives is an almost hourly affair, as Africans, the continent over, yearn for changes to their living experiences through a new breed of leaders, who are not corrupt, greedy, selfish or willing to store the wealth of their nations abroad. Indeed, the reality of the situation is that Africa has been supporting the rest of the world for decades – providing raw materials such as cocoa, coffee, rubber, crude oil and other mineral resources cheaply and receiving in exchange, finished and or processed goods at very high prices.
Mark Curtis and Tim Jones, writing on How the World Profits from Africa’s Wealth put this as follows;
Africa is rich – in potential mineral wealth, skilled workers, booming new businesses and biodiversity. Its people should thrive, its economies prosper. Yet many people living in Africa’s 47 countries remain trapped in poverty, while much of the continent’s wealth is being extracted by those outside it. Research for this report calculates the movement of financial resources into and out of Africa and some key costs imposed on Africa by the rest of the world. We find that the countries of Africa are collectively net creditors to the rest of the world, to the tune of $41.3 billion in 2015. Thus much more wealth is leaving the world’s most impoverished continent than is entering it.[1]
The same article quotes Gabriel Zucman, an academic at the London School of Economics, who estimated in 2014 that rich Africans were holding a massive $500 billion offshore (i.e., in tax havens) – amounting to 30% of all Africa’s financial wealth. The fact that this wealth is untaxed means that African elites have stolen $15 billion from their own countries.[2]
Africa is the marketplace for many goods and services, some of which it does not really need nor require and yet is expected to accept or purchase as part of a global economy that insists on free trade and open borders.
To make matters worse, Africa, and particularly West Africa faces challenges relating to extremism, youth unemployment, climate change, social disorder and internecine conflicts, illegal migration, illegal mining, illegal unregulated, unreported fishing and looting in its waters, all of which are creating disaffection and a restless population.
While all is not gloom and doom, the disparities across Africa place even more pressure on leaders to improve the situation in a manner that provides a baseline for comparison. The 2023 Africa Wealth Report, developed by Henly and Partners which provides a comprehensive review of the wealth sector in Africa has indicated the following in its report[3];
Four of Africa’s Top 10 wealthiest cities are in South Africa — Johannesburg has the most millionaires in Africa, with 14,600, Cairo, in 2nd place with 7,400 resident high net worth individuals (HNWIs) is just ahead of Cape Town, which has 7,200. Lagos is in 4th position with 5,400 millionaires, and Nairobi is 5th with 4,700. The other two South African cities in the Top 10 are Durban, in 6th place with 3,600 and Pretoria in the 8th spot with 2,400 HNWIs. South Africa is home to some of the world’s most upmarket residential areas including Clifton in Cape Town, Beachy Head Drive in Plettenberg Bay, and Sandhurst in Johannesburg. According to New World Wealth’s latest figures, there are approximately 3,700 homes in South Africa that are valued at over USD 1 million. By this measure, South Africa ranks as one of the 20 largest prime residential markets in the world, well ahead of the other countries in Africa and in line with big emerging markets such as India and Brazil.
Moreover, while Africa receives support from countries in the West largely, there are lots of arguments that suggest that such support is targeted at making Africa dependent and is only an inroad to making Africa poorer. An Article in the Guardian newspaper six years ago lends credence to this assertion when it alleged that
African countries received $162bn in 2015, mainly in loans, aid and personal remittances. But in the same year, $203bn was taken from the continent, either directly through multinationals repatriating profits and illegally moving money into tax havens, or by costs imposed by the rest of the world through climate change adaptation and mitigation[4].
It is within this context, that the new West African leader finds himself. Facing an extremely restive youthful population, who are daring and willing to trek across the Sahara desert in order to make ends meet, this new leader must strategise to make a difference and to change the narrative. What is even more troubling for this new breed of leaders, expected to lead Africa into its supposed growth beyond aid is that attitudes that have developed over the years only see hopelessness, unwillingness to contribute to the national effort and an entitlement mentality. The selflessness that birthed African nations, with some seeing their independence inextricably linked to the continent’s total liberation hardly exists. Those nations also doing well seem to be closing their borders to struggling nationals of other nations, thereby exacerbating the challenge. What kind of leader is therefore required to lead West African nations and who are the crop of leaders available? What issues would drive decision making and how will matters that confront the populace be dealt with in a manner that is inclusive and engenders cohesion and prosperity for all? Ghana especially, is in a difficult place with some of its neighbours being the most targeted nations on earth in terms of terrorism and terrorist attacks and resultant deaths.
What is leadership and what is required of the new 2024 and beyond African leader?
Leadership has many definitions but the reality of the situation is that the leadership required to lead Africa into 2025 and beyond is not adequately defined by the available literature on leadership. However, for the sake of comparative references, CISA seems inclined to refer to, F. John Reh, who believes that a leader is a person who has a vision, a drive and a commitment to achieve that vision, and the skills to make it happen[5]. Chad Brooks of Business News Daily argues that while the definition of leadership is the act of leading others, getting people to do so is easier said than done.[6] Greenleaf believes that a leader initiates, provides the ideas and the structure, and takes the risk of failure along with the chance of success… while knowing that the path is uncertain or even dangerous[7]. Greenleaf’s definition of leadership seems to underline the fact that not only do leaders matter but are essential or critical to success.[8]
CISA believes in models, and our analysts have come up with a model that should provide clarity relative to where we are going, a recognition of our challenge and the market in which we are, to develop a strategic focus that would get us there. Consequently, while a definition is necessary, we have come up with a model that typifies current challenges in West Africa, using Ghana as a point of reference. This model, essentially developed from Paul Elkin’s Concept of Leadership[9], states that it is the insight of leaders that drives the success of their organisations. He defines insight as the power of seeing into a situation: understanding, penetrating; and also some intuition. His concept of insight has been recreated in the diagram below.
The National Development Challenge
The concept of national development is strongly related to the desires and aspirations of a people. Ghana is no different. However, what constitutes development is often mixed, with references to what pertains in other countries, particularly the West as the standard.
National development usually refers to the growth or betterment of the living standards of citizens in a country in all areas including economic, social, cultural and material spheres of national life. There are usually indicators that are used to evaluate or compare the levels of growth.
In West Africa generally and Ghana in particular, there are key challenges that the citizens face by which national development efforts are measured. For instance, ease of doing business, access to housing and healthcare, education, freedom of movement, security, general safety and quality of life.
The development challenges in West Africa are myriad. Particularly in Ghana, the proximity to key terrorism hotspots makes it a natural attraction for persons fleeing for safety. The terrorism report has rightly identified the three countries that have left Ecowas recently as key hotspots for terrorist activities. The fallouts and impact of the serious attacks faced by them, particularly Burkina Faso, give cause for worry and require consideration in development planning efforts. The map below culled from the 2023 global terrorism report is reflective of the challenges occasioned by Ghana’s proximity to Burkina Faso
Source: 2023 Global Terrorism Report
In addition to the above, the high levels of youth unemployment, and lack of available avenues are worrying for the development of the nation. The lack of access to quality healthcare in some areas of the country is a key driver of internal migration, placing undue pressure on scarce resources in other areas of the country. The lack of key amenities, such as roads, street lighting, and reliable public transport systems all affect access to markets and the development of opportunities for all.
There is no need to reinvent the wheel but there is every indication that lessons that have been learnt from elsewhere would require customisation to the African situation to make a difference in overcoming the leadership and development challenges that confront Africa in these unstable times. It is believed that the challenges at both leadership and development levels are surmountable and CISA wishes to work with West Africa to develop these.
Considerations for Leadership and Development in West Africa
The issues discussed above cut across all the countries in West Africa and beyond. They happen to be exacerbated in the Ecowas region because of the challenges of extremism and wars that have bedevilled the region. This notwithstanding, a new leadership is required to change the narrative and turn things around. CISA proposes the following;
· Development of partnerships across the region to learn lessons that can be customised to local conditions and culture. The development of cohesion and unity is a critical building block in the chain of events that must happen in the medium term.
· Political: A new political leadership is required that can translate the rhetoric into reality through humble, exemplary but tough leadership that recognizes the individual as a key beneficiary of political emancipation. While issues of rights are fundamental, they must be juxtaposed with the general and collective good to chart the political path that would be all-embracing. More importantly, this political leadership must demonstrate that it does not pander to the dictates of interests outside Africa.
· Infrastructure: While the development of infrastructure is important, it has become necessary to develop in a whole of the nation approach and not the piecemeal approach that has characterised development in the past. A national infrastructure plan with key delineations as to what would occur where, and invitation of the private sector to participate in the development process would engender confidence and support.
· Social: It is fundamental, that a new mindset that is not based on an entitlement mentality is created to demand benefits with appropriate responsibilities. Impartial application of rules, regulations, opportunities and benefits would need to be the bedrock of a new social order that is responsive, evidence-based and inclusive.
· Technology: Africa has lagged behind many parts of the world relative to technology and digitalisation. A recognition of the need for this would be the basis for bringing all on board. Improvement of key services such as mobile money, property address systems, registration and benefits systems leveraging the power of technology is fundamental.
· Markets & Integration: The concept of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a key game changer if well implemented. It provides an opportunity to bring about a billion people together with a total GDP of trillions of dollars. The big picture must be translated through the provision of services, integration of transport systems, ID systems for verification, improved banking transactions and transfers and communication in general.
Conclusion
Africa and West Africa stand at a crossroads. The issues that face national authorities, though myriad, are surmountable. The challenge for the continent is to identify a new breed of leaders with the experience, willingness and humility to confront the issues head-on and make a difference. The continent needs to wake up to the reality that nobody would develop it but its people. Those who have undermined and benefited from the weaknesses of the continent would be happy for the status quo to continue. However, this new breed of leadership would be required to develop a global mindset that encourages all to put their hands on the development wheel, knowing and believing that it is possible and can be done.
[1] How the world profits from Africa’s wealth – Institute of the Black World 21st Century (ibw21.org)
[2] See Gabriel Zucman, ‘Taxing across Borders: Tracking Personal Wealth and Corporate Profits’, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2014, p.140, http://gabriel-zucman.eu/files/Zucm…. Global Financial Integrity estimates that residents of Africa held £263 billion in offshore financial centres in 2011. Global Financial Integrity, Financial Flows and Tax Havens, 2015, p.63, http://www.gfintegrity.org/wpconten…
[3] Africa Wealth Report 2023 | Press Release | Henley & Partners (henleyglobal.com)
[4] World is plundering Africa’s wealth of ‘billions of dollars a year’ | Aid | The Guardian
[5] http://management.about.com/od/leadership/a/whatisaleader.htm
[6] http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2730-leadership.html The article tries to answer the question of ‘What is leadership?’
[7] p29 Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness
[8] see Jones and Olken who believe that leadership can be responsible for sustained economic growth or decline in a nation.
[9] Paul Elkin (1998) Mastering Business Planning & Strategy
