Dr. Kofi Amoah, a businessman and economist, has emphasized the significance of youth to the economic transformation of Africa.
Only by investing in quality education and embracing the values of veracity, justice, equality, and respect could the role of Africa's youth in nation-building and economic development be enhanced.
Africa has 1,3 billion people, 60 percent of whom are under the age of 25. And by 2030, young Africans are expected to make up 42 percent of the global adolescent population.
Dr. Amoah was speaking to nearly 2,500 listeners at a Twitter Spaces event organized by the Students' Representative Council (SRC) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and supported by student leaders from other public universities with the theme: "The Youth of Ghana and Nation-Building; the Missing Link."
The businessman told his audience, which included Nigerian youth, that this was the first in a series of speeches in which he would address critical issues facing Ghana and Africa.
Dr. Amoah noted that political accountability and strong literacy skills were essential prerequisites for national development, and he urged the youth of Africa to consider the missing link between the continent's complicity in the Atlantic slave trade and colonialism and its current state of economic development.
"What is it about our constitution, mentality, and self-understanding that caused us to become slaves? "How do you, as a tribe or community, align yourself with foreigners to capture and enslave your neighbors?" he inquired.
"How do you sign a bond, in the case of Ghana, the Bond of 1844, between the Gold Coast and the British, that lasted for 118 years, to give your sovereignty to another foreign entity so that they can rule over you, own your lands, and tax you at will in order to develop their country?"
Dr. Amoah bemoaned the fact that African employees earned some of the lowest wages in the world, a situation he claimed was exacerbated by a flawed compensation structure.
He advocated for a unified Africa devoid of ethnicity, tribalism, and religious intolerance, noting that it was embarrassing for a continent with the most bountiful lands, water bodies, and favorable climate to continue importing food.
"We borrow $1 billion to construct an infrastructure project, such as a flyover, major road, or hospital, and then award the construction contract to a foreign firm," he continued.
"After 66 years of independence, we do this because we lack confidence in our own contractors. Our reasoning is defective, and I want you young people to realize it."
The industrialist criticized Africa's appetite for megaloans, noting that the practice had bankrupted numerous economies.
Dr. Amoah reminded his audience that the purpose of education and training is to develop the skills necessary to retain the resources and money within a country's economy as a multiplier effect that generates additional income and wealth.
This will result in the creation of employment and taxpayers, a vital source of revenue that will enable African nations to provide infrastructure for their citizens.
He stated that people would continue to view Africa as a blemish on the global conscience unless the continent's youth took immediate action to improve its image.
The businessman underscored that in order to advance, "we must first correct the flaws in our tribal relations, build trust and confidence among ourselves, and instill the pursuit of excellence in our daily activities."
"The mission before us can never be greater than our own fortitude. Let us proceed to establish an African empire."
TimewithCitizenKofi is a monthly conversation on Twitter between Dr. Kofi Amoah (Citizen kofi) and Ghanaian adolescents. The next one is scheduled for 4 June 2023 from 7 to 9 p.m. The space's Twitter handle is Voice_Of_Ghana. Prof. Ransford Gyampo will moderate the discussion on "Political and social accountability of the youth of Ghana and Africa."