Ghana’s inability to address its development challenges is the result of the lack of visionary leadership, Dr. Kwabena Opoku-Adusei, President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has observed.

“We have over the years failed to develop on the gains made since independence because our leaders tend to be more pre-occupied with promoting their own party issues and selfish interests instead of being committed to the national cause,” he said.

“We have so far as a nation been governed by party manifestoes instead of a comprehensive national development agenda that engenders continuity and coherence.”

Dr. Opoku-Adusei recounted the critical role Ghana played in technology transfer, science, engineering and medical education in the 1960s, stressing that “the nation had been left behind because we lack visionary leaders."

Addressing the Eight Biennial Congress of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Alumni Association in Kumasi, the GMA President condemned the inconsistencies in the structuring, planning and implementation of development policies.

He said the recurrence of communicable diseases, increase in poverty and hunger and the stunted growth of most sectors of the economy were leadership-related.

The Congress was on the theme: “Transforming Ghana’s Stunted Development through Appropriate Application of Science and Technology: Teknokrat – Arise and Build”.

It sought to bring together KNUST alumni, including some leading scientists, technocrats, entrepreneurs, agricultural researchers and engineers, to brainstorm and suggest solutions to addressing the nation’s development challenges.

Dr. Opoku-Adusei urged members of the Association to bring their expertise to bear on the nation’s development.

Mr. Tony Danklu, President of the Association, lauded members abroad for their commitment towards the growth of the Association.