Far from being hopeless, Africa is full of hope and potential, maybe more so than any other continent. The challenge is to ensure that its potential is utilised.
Mo IbrahimRead
There is a crisis of leadership and governance in Africa, and we must face it.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the urgent need for effective leadership and governance in Africa.
Mo Ibrahim highlights a significant issue in Africa regarding the lack of strong leadership and proper governance. This crisis affects the continent's development and progress, urging individuals and institutions to acknowledge and address the challenges faced in governance to foster positive change.
In practice
In a speech about development in Africa, this quote can be used to highlight the importance of strong leadership.
Far from being hopeless, Africa is full of hope and potential, maybe more so than any other continent. The challenge is to ensure that its potential is utilised.
In the final analysis, finding a way to do clean business and not to pay bribes actually improves your bottom line.
A narrative that branded Africa as little more than an economic, political and social basket case was not likely to provide the investment needed to drive development.
Experience shows that when political governance and economic management diverge, overall development becomes unsustainable.
If economic progress is not translated into better quality of life and respect for citizens' rights, we will witness more Tahrir Squares in Africa.
Africa is rich, and why are we poor then if our continent is rich. It is not right.
Building product is not about having a large team to manage. It is about having a small team with the right people on it.
In government institutions and in teaching, you need to inspire confidence. To achieve credibility, you have to very clearly explain what you are doing and why. The same principles apply to businesses.
In government, our chief executives have been lawyers. The great majority of our cabinets and congresses are and have been men trained in the law. They have provided the leadership and the statecraft and the store of strength when it was needed.
Now you fear punishment and beg for your lives, so I will let you free, if not for any other reason so that you can see the difference between a Greek king and a barbarian tyrant, so do not expect to suffer any harm from me. A king does not kill messengers.
I know that millions of Americans from all walks of life agree with me that leadership does not mean putting the ear to the ground to follow public opinion, but to have the vision of what is necessary and the courage to make it possible.
The most important persuasion tool you have in your entire arsenal is integrity.
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