Founder of the UT Group, Captain Rtd Prince Kofi Amoabeng has stated that the politicians and traditional leaders in Africa are the people who disrespect time the most and that is a sign of disrespect to the citizens.
He said respect for time in Africa can only become a culture if traditional leaders and politicians begin to respect time.
Capt. Rtd Kofi Amoabeng was speaking at the 6th edition of the Time Keeping Dialogue organized by Transformational Leadership Concepts (TLC) the on theme ‘’Time as a critical national resource’’.
The virtual event, which kicked off this year’s program, was chaired by Togbe Kwasinyi Agyeman V, the chief of Adidome in the Volta Region, and a Communications for change advocate, and was hosted by Mrs. Georgina, Asare Fiagbenu, a Communication for Development advocate.
The retired Captain, who is also an author and business leader indicated that, time defines everything and there are two aspects of it. The raw length of time and quality time.
He observed that whereas time is increasingly become a critical resource for national development due to technological advancement, it would appear that time wasting is becoming even worse in Africa because “our leaders have no respect for time.”
According to him, politicians and traditional leaders continue to go two to three hours late to events without any explanation and even when they host events, they keep their guests waiting for hours.
Capt. Amoabeng added “the problem lie with leadership in our society. The environment shapes everything. we have created various customs and traditions that makes us waste time’’.
“I am sorry to say that things have become worse over time and I don’t see any hope in sight if our leaders don’t change their attitude to time.”
He added that, notwithstanding the negative trends, the African has got the capacity and potential to change and to do what is right when the environment allows it, citing the attitudes of Ghanaians abroad to back his statement.
Capt. Amoabeng made a strong argument that that time is the main currency for human beings and that respecting and loving people is about respecting their time and giving them quality time.
Explaining his point, he said life is nothing more than a function of time so, disrespecting and wasting time is simply disrespecting and wasting life.
Relating the timekeeping issue to business, he said people need to understand that every business must help in making people’s lives better. It must help reduce the time they spend on things.
He said businesses must love the people they are doing business for. This will get them to reduce the processes required in accessing the services. Its only when there are improvements that’s what leads to profitability.
The retired Captain said ‘’for a change to occur, the system must change. There should be structures put in place to ensure that the system works to the latter.’’ Leaders must serve as role models by adhering to the systems and structures put in place to ensure effective and quality living for all’’. He added.
The timekeeping initiative is being undertaken to help in creating a better timekeeping culture in Ghana. It was launched to improve the chronic lateness and lack of respect for time and timekeeping in Ghana.
The Timekeeping series has featured distinguished personalities such as Prof. Lade Wosornu, a retired surgeon, poet, and a fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Nana Kwasi Gyan Apenteng, communication and culture Expert, Mr. Sydney Casely Hayford, social commentator, Manasseh Awuni, journalist and a social commentator, Ibrahim K. Asante, International speaker, trainer and peak performance strategist, Mrs. Comfort Ocran, motivational speaker and author, Mrs. Ewurabena Benin, learning facilitator and author, Yvonne Oppong Ayisi, a manager at CBG, among others.
The national timekeeping initiative is targeted at policymakers, media, legislators, event organizers.
