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Pastor Mensa Otabil, founder and leader of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), has asked the private sector to take charge of the economy, despite the various economic hardships confronting private businesses in Ghana.

Pastor Otabil said this at the sixth edition of Ghana’s Most Influential (GMI) Awards, which saw him being crowned the most influential personality for the year 2015, making him a second-time winner.

According to him, the private sector is an engine of growth, and if exploited well, it can transform the economy and the lives of Ghanaians as well.

He was, however, unhappy about how the public accept some major flaws, like the persistent power outages in the country, as normal. 

“It’s sad that abnormal things have become normal with us. We have had two power outages within this short period and we see it as normal. If it had been in other countries, they would think the country was being invaded by another country,” Pastor Otabil said.

According to the motivational speaker, citizens need not occupy powerful positions before they become influential, but in their own way, they should impact their immediate environment. 

He also urged the Ghanaian media to concentrate on what the citizens are doing rather than on what the politicians are doing.

Dr Joyce Aryee, Board Chair, Global Media Alliance, challenged flagbearers of the various political parties to make promises that are measureable.

Dr Aryee noted that Ghanaians are fed up with the usual spin of politicians in their respective manifestoes, which are mostly unachievable.

 “The flagbearers of the respective political parties should make known their manifestoes as soon as possible. And we don’t want the usual spin. We want promises that we can measure. We can’t say we’re influencers when we continually put out mediocre manifestoes,” she said.

Dr Joyce, who has over 40 years’ experience in both the public and private sector, was optimistic that the November 7 elections was going to be peaceful.

“There will be no fire in this country because we all love Ghana so much. Peace messages should not only be for this year because it’s an election year but let’s strive to look beyond this year with our peace messages,” Dr Aryee said.

The Ghana Most Influential Persons Award is an annual event organised by e.TV Ghana to recognise Ghanaians who have made some significant impact on the Ghanaian society during the year under review. 

Other personalities who were adjudged influential are Anas Aremeyaw Anas, J.J. Rawlings, Asamoah Gyan, Lydia Forson, DCOP Kofi Boakye, Ebo Whyte, Kwaku Baako and Albert Ocran.

Others are Abraham Attah, Joyce Ababio, Gifty Anti, Bernard Avle, IGP, Mr John Kudalor and Esther Cobbah. In all, hundred personalities made the list.