Africa�s Resources Are Underutilisation � Kofi Amoah

Dr. Kofi Amoah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Progeny Ventures, has reiterated the need for African countries to adequately use their natural resources if they want to develop. The astute Ghanaian businessman said �Africans cannot keep looking outside for help when they abound with fertile resources which they can use to locally grow their economies.� He noted that with the right leadership qualities, Africa can reposition itself and create employment for its citizenry. Dr. Amoah stated this in an interview with this paper during the media launch of the Vodafone Africa Business Leaders Forum (ABLF) in Accra. This year�s ABLF is being organized to create a platform for African business leaders within and outside the continent to brainstorm on the creation of opportunities out of the misfortunes that have been experienced by the continent over the years. It will also seek to advance the need for the pursuit of development and economic transformation for the continent. The ABLF 2011 will engender strategic collaborations between African business leaders on the continent and their compatriots in the Diaspora to revolutionize Africa�s developmental agenda for a massive socio-economic turnaround. In her address, Edith Dankwa Executive Director of Business and Financial Times, said opportunities abound in Africa �but we recognize that turning these opportunities into concrete actions that deliver prosperity and wealth will require visionary and effective leadership in both the public and private sectors.� This, she noted, is Africa�s most demanding challenge of this era. Mrs. Dankwa said �ABLF has also provided learning opportunities for delegates to draw on the rich experiences of panelists including past and present African heads of state, government ministers, top-notch business executives, entrepreneurs and CEOs from Africa and beyond.� She said this year�s event, which will be second time Ghana would be hosting the event, will witness representation of leaders and decision-makers in academia, business and government. This year�s forum, which is slated from November 10 to 12, will also feature international exhibition as well as Golf Day aimed at boosting business networking. Kyle Whitehill, CEO of Vodafone Ghana, said leadership is about people taking responsibility to develop and called on Africans to rally behind their leaders, who can develop social and economic change. Speakers at the conference included Prince Kofi Amoabeng, CEO UT Bank, Dr. Iraj Abedia, Principal Consultant, Lonadek, Nigeria, Dr. Yaw Perbi, Global CEO, The HuD Group, Canada, and Dr. Kofi Amoah.