Two Ghanaians currently being celebrated, having been named by the Global Economic Forum as Young Global Leaders, are not basking in the glory.
With unmistakable unanimity, Mr Bright Simons, a Research Fellow at policy think tank, IMANI, and founder of internationally reputed law firm, Kimathi & Partners, Mr Kimathi Kuenyehia, say even though they welcome and appreciate the honour and recognition, they are not overly enthusiastic about it.
Speaking on Joy FM?s Super Morning Show, Wednesday, Mr Simons said ?It is significant that Ghana, I think is only behind South Africa or something in terms of the nomination to this particular award but we?ve always done that; the first black president of the UN General Assembly?was Ghanaian, we?ve had the first Sub-Saharan African Secretary-General of the UN also being Ghanaian, we were also the first black nation to become independent.?
The challenge, however, is ?to what extent that has transformed the country and its people generally as opposed to specific pockets of excellence. That would be a very important conversation to have?To what extent are we across the board trying to transform our society rather than to keep on praising the few people who attempt to break out of the mould??
Agreeing with him, Mr Kuenyehia, said, ?The whole point about being honoured, or being spoken about, or having an award I think sometimes gets over exaggerated. The most important thing is whether or not you are doing what you are doing very well and you are doing it not necessarily seeking the public limelight.?
He said while they were excited and ?extremely delighted about? the award, ?the underlining point really is that whatever you want to do, you should do it?with excellence.?
Mr Kuenyehia dispelled the notion that to achieve the kind of excellence and the corresponding honour conferred on them, one must have been educated abroad.
?My formation has been in Ghana?I went to O? Level, the old system, I did my A? Level here, I went to my undergrad here, went back to law school (Faculty of Law at University of Ghana), did my Makola (Ghana Law School) before I went abroad for school,? he insisted.
Bright Simons agreed; ?My entire span of inspiration has been Ghanaian. The experiences that have triggered my particular focuses in life have been Ghanaian.?
