The Institutes Of Bankers at East Legon – Accra was the venue for the second edition of the Eminent Africans Global Integrity Conference and Awards, organised by the West African International press, which coincided with the African Games held in Accra.
The conference was held under the theme ‘Integrity – The Missing Link in African Politics and Business’ and was addressed by Ghana’s erudite diplomatic envoy and technocrat Prof. Baffour Agyemang-Duah, former distinguished UN envoy.
The uniquely organised conference and award saw 22 eminent personalities wining awards. The awards winners included three current ministers. They are Ignatius Baffour Awuah – Minister for Employment and Labour Relations; Dr. Kwaku Afriyie – Environmental Science and Technology; and Joseph Cudjoe – Public Enterprises.
The rest are Prof. Ahmed Nuhu Zakariah, Rt. Rev. Dr. Gordon Kisseih, Bishop Noble Francis Afotey Odai, Noble Felicia Twumasi, Dr. Ebenezer Paul Buckman, Noble Kwaku Agyemang-Duah, Noble Kofi Frimpong Amoakohene, Dr. De Gaulle Dogbatsey, Noble Victor Obeng- Adiyiah, Dr. Stephen Nana Ato Arthur, Dr. Manfred Takyi, Mrs. Florence Egremont Laast, Dr. Nick Danso Adjei, Prof. Dr. Stephen Yeboah, Rev. Ebenezer Yamoah-Ghansah and St. Andrews Group of Schools.
Speaking at the session, Prof. Richard Kofi Asiedu, founder of the Saint Andrew’s Group of Schools and the Chairman of Africans Global Integrity Conference and Awards, said these year’s theme, ‘Integrity- The Missing Link in African Politics and Business’, has come timely and therefore used the occasion to share a few words about corruption in African politics.
“You will have noticed that despite increasing structures and regulations as well as the fact that countries have put in place measures to check corruption in high places, African leaders have continued to find ways to enrich themselves using illicit means. The damage high level and systematic corruption inflict on the already struggling African economics cannot be ignored.
“The illicit activities of the elected officials, bureaucrats and industry leaders are rendering states unable to deliver the most basic services to their citizens. Consequently, lack of reliable energy, unemployment crisis, ineffective healthcare, poor quality education, inaccessible justice system and an unaccountable irresponsive governance are all ripple-effects of high levels of corruption in our continent.”
Dr. Dee Otibu-Asare, President/CEO of the West African International Press, pointed out that the magazine is taking cognisance of the fact that corruption and misappropriation of funds are the elemental causes of strife and collapse of businesses and governments in Africa; so this year, he decided to beam its searchlight on politicians and the business class with their operations and activities in the African continent.
Continuing his statement, he defined a man of integrity as a man others can count on, who takes personal responsibility for his own life and responsible for both his successes and failures. He indicated that integrity is a value for which one should strive in all areas of life, adding that the first step toward integrity is being honest with oneself.
