Kwabena A-Manager, Author at TalkAfrique

October 22, 2013

Motivating Tomorrow’s Leaders: Doing it While the Plane is Still on the Runway

by Dr. Kwabena Amponsah-Manager

Doing something and feeling at the end that you did the right thing at the right time gives a kind of a sweet feeling.

Last week I was at Aketenchi, a village in the Western Region of Ghana to help train health workers as part of the Ghana’s grassroots healthcare delivery program. After the training, I had about 2 hours before our team was scheduled to depart from the village. I had a wonderful idea. I did something which was the most fulfilling part of the day. If everything works right, I believe I might have prepared the next presidents, UN Secretaries, teachers, pastors, businessmen and women of the next two decades, hoping every kind of luck under the sun works out too.

I called three kids who were roaming about the streets of the village and started to talk to them about the importance of school and education. Initially I was afraid what their parents would say if they found me talking to these children without the patents’ knowledge. I had no idea what I was getting into. Within minutes of starting, the crowd had grown to over 40 children and 14 adults. I was scared. I was really terrified about someone getting hurt with each child trying to find their way to get as close to me as possible. I had no security personnel for crowd control.

Dr. K Amponsah-Manager motivates kids in Akatenchie in the Western Region in Ghana that they can be whatever they want to be in life.

I talked to them about why they need to love school and stay in school. I assured them of the possibility that any of them can become the president, a teacher, a scientist, a pastor, footballer, a businessman or woman or the next PULSE volunteer to come and help their own community in the future. The grins on their faces were beautiful. They listened attentively.

I had some gifts (pencils, crayons, books, balls, games etc) that I carried with me to the village that day. Because I had not planned for such a large crowd, I did not have something for everybody. I therefore gave a quiz and the kids who got the answers right got gifts first and everybody else by chance. It was chaos but so much fun. Continue reading “Motivating Tomorrow’s Leaders: Doing it While the Plane is Still on the Runway”

July 28, 2013

On the Ground, How I see the ‘Emerging, Sub-Saharan African Economies’

I am currently in Ghana volunteering with Jhpiego to assist the Ghana Health Services in the implementation of a rural health care planning service.

I have mixed impressions on the state of affairs in Ghana, which applies to most of the so called ‘emerging Sub-Saharan economies’. Political stability, infrastructural development, the ‘IMF/World Bank economy’ and the real economy mean different things to different people. The same things will mean different things to the same person depending on whether one takes the ‘glass half full or half empty’ view

Read more.

July 28, 2013July 28, 2013

Timing is Moneying

By Dr. K Amponsah-Manager

When you are not sure you have something to say, it is better to keep quiet. When you feel you have something to say, say it when the PASSION is high and the moment is HOT. Because this is when your words are going to have the most impact and you are going to have that sugary feeling of fulfillment after you have said what you have to say.

So get the timing right, and the rest will be money.

June 13, 2013

Malaria: Focus on Prevention and Get the African Privileged Engaged

by Dr. K Amponsah-Manager

I have written on malaria in the past. Since then, much has changed and nothing has changed.

There are more than 400 million cases of malaria annually. Most of malaria infections and deaths occur in Sub-Saharan African where the most vulnerable are infants, pregnant mothers and seniors. In fact, it is estimated that 90% of malaria-related deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa.

Significant progress has been made in the fight against malaria as more effective drugs are made available. At the same time, challenges emerge as the plasmodium parasite develops resistance towards existing drugs. For instance, chloroquine which in the past used to be the most commonly prescribed medicine against malaria, even though is still used to treat and prevent malaria, is no longer as effective against the disease because the parasite developed resistance to the drug. There is currently no effective vaccine against malaria but there may be one in the horizon.

Even though malaria has not received global attention required for a killer of such profile, wealthy foundations, some private companies, and smart governments across the world are beginning to wake up and make malaria a priority. One of such foundations is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Malaria can be defeated, albeit, not overnight. The funding available for anti-malaria campaigns, and research and development is tiny compared to the challenges.

While governments, Foundations and private institutions work towards eradication and prevention, it is important for private citizens to join the partnership especially in efforts towards preventing malaria.

In the long run, I believe that prevention of malaria is the cost-effective route to take rather than treatment of the disease. However, for preventive measures to make a dent, individual participation and community involvement would have to be spurred up. Continue reading “Malaria: Focus on Prevention and Get the African Privileged Engaged”

March 24, 2013

Showing Up is the First Step to Success

I heard someone say that 80 percent of life is merely showing up. I thought about it for a while and I couldn’t agree less with him.

You have an awesome idea that can change the outcome; you have a question to ask that no one has thought of, but the first step is being there.

There is no substitute for being on the ground; there is no alternative to being physically present; there’s nothing of the same scale as responding YES to the invitation and showing up.

And if you show up and change the outcome, you pay for the remaining 20%.

February 13, 2013

Beyond Showing Up: Did You Change the Outcome?

It’s tempting and comforting to put in an appearance and do what is anticipated of you: nod, take notes, and enjoy the refreshments and leave. Being negative should not imply actively pulling down only. If you’re not putting in the effort to add something, it’s equivalent to actively taking something away. It hurts all of us.

If you always show up and do just what you’re expected to do, you’re only faintly different from the guy who never shows up. It’s when you make a contribution that changes the outcome of the day, the meeting, the project, that you will be borne in mind and appreciated. Humans by nature respect and adore individuals who do more beyond just showing up.

There’s a cost for your inclusion: there’s the monetary cost, and also the cost of lost opportunity by the other person who does not get a seat at the table Continue reading “Beyond Showing Up: Did You Change the Outcome?”