By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Renowned economist, Mr. Kwame Pianim, has lamented the low level of leadership deficits in African countries, including Ghana.
He indicated that the leadership deficit on the continent is becoming very expensive.
Mr Pianim said these while speaking during the 2023 edition of the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) annual leadership lecturer series held in Accra on Monday, December 11, 2023.
The event is on the theme ‘Re-imagining Ghana’s Development Trajectory for a Peaceful, Prosperous Nation By 2057.’
According to the renowned economist, “it has become increasingly and painfully evident that the leadership deficit in Africa is very expensive. Ghana and Korea started at the same level of per capita income around 1960. We were higher. 62 years later, Korea has a GDP per capita of 33,000 USD and Ghana has 2000 USD.
“The leadership deficit cost is 30,000 Dollars per head of every Ghanaian people like me and the political leaders of this country owe as a preparation to each Ghanaian the cost of the leadership deficits.”
Regarding the condition in Ghana, Mr. Pianim observed that the West African natural resource-rich nation is a peaceful country compared to others.
He indicated that the peaceful nature of Ghana makes the country the envy of many others.
Mr Pianim said, “Ghana is already peaceful; we are the envy of many people, and we are relatively peaceful.
A Chinese friend moved to Nigeria recently and came back and said, Mr Pianim, in Nigeria I cannot get out; two of my colleagues and their families are looking for money to ransom them; they were kidnapped, but I am in Ghana and I can walk to anywhere.”
Ghana has been spared a lot of natural disasters, ebola came but we didn’t have it, where we are located there are no hurricanes,” he added.
