The US has selected Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to host the Regional Learning Centre for President Obama's Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) in July.

The programme offers innovative and game changing leadership training in Africa to foster sustained economic growth, promote food security, increase resilience to climate change, and improve the capacity of countries and communities to address HIV and AIDS, malaria and other health threats.

The programme, launched by President Barrack Obama as a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders would be hosted and managed the training and development of young African leaders from West Africa.

Professor Franklyn Achampong Manu, Rector of GIMPA made this known on Saturday at the 15th Congregation of the institute in Accra.

He said for the 2014/15 academic year, GIMPA enrolled 6076 students in graduate and undergraduate programmes in Business School, Faculty of Law, School of Technology, and School of Public Service and Governance.

The Rector said the Institute has signed memoranda of understanding with other institutions such as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in US and University of Johannesburg in South Africa to strengthen programmes and staff development.

He indicated that the GIMPA Consultancy Services has won a five-year education project contract by the United States Agency International Development worth 71 million dollars to improve, expand and sustain learning outcomes for at least 2.8 million primary school pupils nationwide.

The Rector said the Consultancy Service has signed a contract with Ghana Agriculture Project to provide consultancy services to the Upper East Irrigation Company Limited on the modernisation of the Authority.

Prof Manu said the Institute has initiated the process of acquiring land for a new campus at Pampaso near Nsawam to expand its satellite campus and would soon install equipment to commence distance learning programmes in ICT and computer science under the auspices of the African Virtual University.

He urged the graduands to be focused and be productive in their field of discipline and join the Institute's alumni to build a strong foundation.

Dr Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, Chief Executive Officer of Danpong Group of Companies speaking on the theme: "Leadership and Development" said good leaders must influence the behaviour of others and should be intentional, and directed towards their desired objectives.

Dr Adu-Gyamfi noted that leadership and development in Africa is critical, adding that little has changed economically for the country since independence due to weak leadership policies.

He said effective leaders must have these qualities for development-vision, trust, empowerment and values and principles.

He said the country needs leadership programmes to develop, coach and mentor leaders for the desired development.