The Dean of the University of Ghana Business School, Professor Justice Bawole has made a call to corporate institutions to implement leadership programmes to train the next generation to equip them for the job market.

“I am particularly happy that these foundations are coming up to provide this kind of skills because the universities are really overwhelmed. I want to make a call to other institutions especially corporate Ghana to either initiate similar projects or support universities and foundations that are already in it with funding,” he said.

According to him, Ghana would have been better developed if the education system had incorporated leadership into the curriculum earlier.

Speaking at the graduation and induction ceremonies of the 2022 and 2025 batches respectively of the John A. Kufuor Foundation, Professor Bawole said, “one of the critical deficits in our training across all Ghanaian universities is the issue of leadership. Soft skills, leadership, communication, empathy, ability to work in group etc are things that employers look out for. Business leaders often complain about the lack of these qualities in the youth so programmes such as this equip students before they go out onto the job market.”

Former President and Founder of the JAK Foundation, John Agyekum Kufuor advised the scholars to focus on impacting humanity.

He emphasised on the importance of servant leadership to effect change.

“Focus on using your leadership to save humanity. The rational for everything is mankind. If you focus on man and use the principles you have learnt, mankind will be impacted for better. Serving humanity humbles you,” he said.

One of the graduating scholars, Elizabeth Osei expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the programme.

“The programme has been really impactful. It is one of the best things that has happened in my life. I am ready for the job market. This programme has taught me to be innovative, creative and to think outside the box hence I believe that I will excel wherever I find myself,” she exclaimed.