Kumasi, May 22, GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has advocated the strengthening of chieftaincy to enable it to become more vibrant and be able to withstand the test of time. He said the institution had remained one of the most treasured traditional and cultural legacies in Africa and in view of this traditional rulers should work hard to continually upgrade their managerial and leadership skills to preserve the time-tested institution.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said this when Professor John Adair, a renowned British leadership and management trainer, called on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Monday.

He said such a move was crucial to realizing the continent's development goals.

"Even though democracy is gradually catching up with most African countries, the concept will fail to achieve its desired agenda if traditional rulers are not motivated to complement the efforts of political leaders."

The renowned trainer and motivational speaker, who is in the country for the first time, is expected to interact with chief executive officers, political leaders, businessmen and the academia during his four-day stay in the country.

The Asantehene appealed to African leaders to live up to expectation by exhibiting accountability, transparency and honesty and condemned bribery and corruption and human rights abuses that had dominated Africa's political scene recently. "These developments impede moves to facilitate the economic emancipation of the continent."

Citing Nigeria and Zimbabwe as examples, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said it was regrettable that despite the high reputation of these countries on the continent, recent reported cases of human right abuses, vote rigging and intimidation had tended to soil the images of the two countries and Africa in general.

He said he was optimistic that Professor Adair's visit would contribute to building the capacities and managerial skills of leaders and potential leaders for an accelerated growth of Ghana's economy. Prof Adair commended the Asantehene for being a model chief on the continent, stressing that Africa needed a new breed of leaders who were committed to the continent's cause.