FORMER PRESIDENT John Agyekum Kufuor has opined that a good leader is the one with extraordinary vision to turn meagre resources into huge and plenty benefits.
He explained that when he took over the presidency in 2001, Ghana had been declared HIPC but by the time he left in 2009, Ghana was counted among middle-income countries.
Speaking on the topic �Facing the Challenges of Leadership in Turbulent Times� at the first ever Ghana CEO Business Summit held at Koforidua in the Eastern Region, on Friday, the former president said ineffective and inefficient leaders would rather turn fortunes into great misfortunes, stressing that some people were born leaders, whilst others had leadership thrust on them, with others acquiring it.
He said real leadership qualities were tested in times of turbulence, uncertainty and conflict, stressing that a good leader should always leave indelible footprints in the sands of time.
According to him, when it came to good leadership, the leader should be firm, resolute and innovative to turn misfortunes into fortunes, stressing that a good leader should be compassionate and care about the welfare of the people he was leading.
He mentioned how President Li Kwan Yu of Singapore inspired and motivated his people and recruited dedicated people to turn the country round to make it one of the best countries, economically, with high per capita income.
He mentioned other exemplary leaders as Yaa Asantewaa of Ejisu, Torgbui Sri of Anlo, all in ancient Ghana, and Charles De Gulle of France who lead their respective people into freedom and prosperity.
�Those who are able to withstand these vicissitudes and still push their nations or entities ahead and into stability and prosperity and become great and famous,� he said.
He stressed the importance for the people who worked with a leader to be well-motivated so that they could remain dedicated to achieve whatever goals the leader had set for him/herself.
On business leadership, the former president said what business leaders needed was a little bit more tenacity and the ability to think unconventional ways to be able to gain competitive advantage at all times.
He said business leaders should also see themselves as agents of change on whose shoulders rest the potential for the advancement of the nation.
�You have the capacity as business leaders to see beyond the present challenges and obstacles to lay the foundation that have far-reaching and enduring values which the ordinary person would not see,� he said.
He added that not all decisions the leader took might be popular but he/she must be able to create distinct qualities that marked him out as a product champion.
�As business leaders, you must not always seek the huge profits, as important as they may be but also seek the welfare of the people who toil to give you gains that make you live comfortably,� he said, stating, �It is important to plough back some of your profits for the good of your workers.�
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