Dr. Toni Aubynn, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission has stated that for the next generation of business leaders to deliver ‘Ghana beyond Aid’, they ought to be creative and innovative in business ideas, articulate the global dynamics, adapt to unending changes and be entrepreneurial. Dr. Aubynn made these remarks when he delivered the keynote address at the launch of the KNUST School of Business (KSB) 14th Business Week Celebrations.
The launch, which brought together students and staff of the KSB, was under the theme ‘Ghana beyond Aid: Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders Today’.
Dr. Aubynn said that Ghana beyond Aid, which has been the flagship theme of His Excellency, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, since he became President, is an agenda with a key target of reducing aid inflow to Ghana and a journey towards self-reliance. The essence of ‘Ghana beyond Aid’ is to extricate the country from excessive reliance and dependence on foreign donors, he added.
According to him, ‘Ghana beyond Aid’ is a call on values, mindsets and attitudinal changes that conditions the environment for the pursuit of development. In light of this, he called on the students to prepare and position themselves as leaders of the nation to push this agenda of the Government.
To prepare the students as future leaders in driving ‘Ghana beyond Aid’, Dr. Aubynn advocated for the government to invest in business education and provide the philosophical basis for business studies and leadership development. He added that the University should incorporate innovation, creativity and confidence in the teaching of business courses.
Mrs. Yvonne Ladoo who represented the Municipal Chief Executive of Kumasi, Honourable Osei Assibey-Antwi revealed that the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has personnel assigned to assist individual business ideas. She therefore advised the participants to call on the personnel for advice on setting up their businesses.