Report By: Ishmael Barfi
The inaugural AMDIN conference has been organized by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) with the theme: Enhancing Governance and Public Administration amidst poly-crises through collaboration, policy, artificial intelligence, and innovation for improved service delivery.
AMDIN is a network comprising Management Development Institutes (MDIs), Public Sector Training Institutes (PSTIs), and Public Administration Institutions (PIAs) across Africa.
The establishment of AMDIN was prompted by the evident interdependence of development, governance quality, and public sector capacity, recognized by both continental leaders and international development partners.
Key objectives of AMDIN include advocating for a conducive policy environment, enhancing the collective capacity of MDIs through resource sharing and knowledge exchange, and developing essential management skills among faculty and staff.
Deputy Minister for Public Service and Administration of South Africa, Rt. Hon. Pinky Kekana
During her address, the Deputy Minister for Public Service and Administration of South Africa, Rt. Hon. Pinky Kekana, highlighted the vital importance of state capacity in delivering, protecting, and uplifting citizens, describing governance as a reflection of resilience, recovery, and transformation.
She pointed out that Africa’s resources position it at the forefront of global trade conflicts and economic challenges, with developing nations disproportionately affected by stagnation.
Kekana recalled the disparity in vaccine distribution during the Covid-19 pandemic and the violence faced by Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for effective public service and robust state capacity.
She concluded by advocating for the enhancement of governance and public administration through collaboration, policy, evidence, technology, and innovation to tackle poly-crises, while urging African leaders to take charge and strategize for the continent’s future, including the necessity to update development strategies to meet contemporary challenges.
Prof. Samuel Kwaku, the Rector of GIMPA
During an interview with The New Independent Online, Prof. Samuel Kwaku, the Rector of GIMPA, articulated that Africa possesses a wealth of mineral resources essential to the global market. Additionally, the continent boasts a youthful demographic, and the key lies in effectively mobilizing these resources for the advancement of Africa.
He stated that the upcoming conference aims to generate recommendations for our partners, including the African Union and the European Union, to facilitate a comprehensive restructuring towards a progressive future.
Prof. Samuel further noted the necessity of revising our educational curriculum to foster strong leadership and develop the skilled personnel required to realize these objectives.
He pointed out that while the global discourse centers on Artificial Intelligence and its potential for future development, he has yet to observe any African nation implementing a strategic plan to embrace these changes and prepare for the future.
He concluded by emphasizing that for progress to occur, our leadership must guide us in these critical directions.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
