The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong has called on African leaders to begin to create a sound future for Africa by investing in young people today.

According to him, the values, sense of responsibility and ideals that the late Nelson Mandela displayed was as a result of the training he got from the church and school at his youthful age.

He continued that, the additional grooming he got at the Thembu paramount chief’s palace at age nine when he lost his dad also contributed enormously to his struggle for justice and peace in South Africa and the world at large.

For him, African leaders must learn this principle from Nelson Mandela and begin to create the future we want by strategically nurturing and positioning young people into that bright future we want see for our children.

Rev. Opuni-Frimpong who made these remarks last Wednesday when he signed the book of condolence of the late President Nelson Mandela at the residence of the South Africa High Commission in Accra, added that “young people represent the future aspirations of this country and the world at large and leaders must provide the necessary resources for their development.

He continued that, the late Nelson Mandela is an epitome of forgiveness, unity and reconciliation, which he demonstrated by working towards government of national unity in coalition with his former white enemies who tortured and imprisoned him.

“Despite the torture and suffering he experienced while in jail for 27 years, Mandela realised that if he didn’t leave his bitterness and hatred behind, he would still be a prisoner. This is what NPP and NDC must learn and work at healing the wounds of our history rather than playing blame-game with our nation”, he intimated.

He further recalled that, Mandela’s use of personal gestures, including visiting the widow of Dr. Verwoerd and his former prosecutor, Percy Yutar are invaluable skills that our leaders must learn in building a united nation.

The CCG chief scribe also admonished political, religious and traditional leaders in Ghana to take a cue from Nelson Mandela’s leadership style of knowing when to exit from office, even at a time when everyone was celebrating his leadership values.

“Whether as a church or political leader, we must respect the worth and capacities of others, even if they are our competitors. We must embrace diversity of values and give people the opportunity serve and lead, especially when they have capacity than us. Let’s always be guided by the fact that to lead people is a privilege and not a life-time property which puts a responsibility on us to leave the scene when it is needful to so,” he advised.

He described the late Mandela as a global and generational leader whose ideals have inspired generations of liberation fighters all over Africa and the world at large.

To this end, Rev. Opuni-Frimpong called on Ghanaians to rise above partisanship in dealing with the many developmental challenges facing our dear nation.