Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has urged older generations to share their knowledge and experience with young people to help them prepare for leadership responsibilities more quickly and effectively. Speaking on Joy News' PM Express, Mr. Kufuor emphasized that his own journey to the highest office in Ghana involved years of learning through different professional and public service roles. He believes that younger generations can benefit from the lessons learned by their predecessors.
Mr. Kufuor noted that his generation had a responsibility to package their experiences in ways that could be useful to young people, including through initiatives such as foundations and mentorship programs. He stated that he wants to leave a legacy for the youth, saying that he came to his position through a long apprenticeship and that younger people may not have the time or opportunity to undergo a similar process.
The former president acknowledged that young people today have advantages that previous generations did not enjoy, particularly in education, science, and technology. He observed that access to modern communication tools and digital technology has made it easier for the current generation to obtain information and learn at a faster pace.
Mr. Kufuor emphasized that the challenge is to combine the experience of older generations with the educational and technological advantages available to young people. He recalled that in the 1950s and 1960s, even a large city like Kumasi had very limited telephone connections, with communication facilities far less accessible than they are today.
The former president expressed the hope that young people, equipped with insights from their predecessors, would be able to build on their achievements and take society further. He stated that if his generation can put their experiences into a package before young people, they would expect them to quickly gain insights into how they achieved their goals and do even better.
Mr. Kufuor's comments highlight the importance of intergenerational knowledge transfer and mentorship in preparing young people for leadership. He believes that structured mentorship can give young people a clearer understanding of what has worked, what has failed, and what can be improved, rather than requiring them to learn every lesson through trial and error.
The former president's call for intergenerational knowledge transfer and mentorship comes as Ghana and other countries seek to develop their young leaders. His emphasis on the importance of combining experience with education and technology is particularly relevant in today's fast-changing world.
Key points
- Former President John Agyekum Kufuor emphasizes the importance of intergenerational knowledge transfer and mentorship in preparing young people for leadership.
