General

In Africa’s challenging and dynamic business environment, success can be hard to come by. The continent is home to a diverse array of markets and economies, each with its own unique opportunities and obstacles. To thrive in this environment, businesses need to be agile, innovative, and laser-focused on results. Yet, too often, businesses in Africa prioritize ideas over performance – chasing after the latest trends and buzzwords instead of focusing on the fundamentals that drive success.  In this article, I hope to explore why it is so important for African businesses to prioritize performance over ideas, and outline some strategies for making this happen. By doing so, businesses in Africa can overcome the challenges they face and achieve long-term success. African Businesses Can Achieve Results That Matter In today’s fast-paced and competitive business environment, having great ideas is not enough. To truly succeed, businesses need to focus on performance, which involves executing on those ideas. This is particularly important in Africa, where the business landscape can be challenging and success requires a combination of innovation and effective execution. There are several reasons why performance is more important than ideas. First and foremost, performance is what separates successful businesses from those that fail. According to a study by Harvard Business School, high-performing companies consistently outperformed their competitors in terms of profitability, growth, and customer satisfaction (Davenport et al., 2010). This suggests that while having innovative ideas is important, it is the ability to execute on those ideas that ultimately drives success. In Africa, where the business environment can be challenging, performance is even more critical. Businesses operating in Africa face a range of obstacles, including limited infrastructure, regulatory barriers, and political instability. In this context, the ability to perform effectively is essential to achieving long-term success. Furthermore, focusing on performance is what builds credibility and trust with customers and other stakeholders. In Africa, trust is a particularly vital component of business relationships.  According to a survey by PwC, trust is the top factor influencing customer loyalty in Africa, with 73% of respondents citing it as a key driver of their purchasing decisions (PwC, 2018). By delivering consistent, high-quality results, businesses can build trust and earn the respect of their customers, which can help them to achieve even greater success in the long run. In addition, performance is what drives innovation and growth. When businesses focus on performance, they are forced to find ways to improve their processes, products, or services continually. This drive to innovate is what sets successful businesses apart from their competition and helps them stay ahead in the long run. In Africa, where innovation is essential for economic growth and development, the ability to perform effectively is particularly important. Several studies support the idea that performance is more important than ideas for driving innovation and growth. According to a study by the University of California, Berkeley, high-performing companies are more likely to invest in research and development, leading to more innovative products and services (Folta et al., 2010).  Similarly, research by the African Development Bank found that the most successful African businesses are those that are able to innovate and adapt to changing market conditions (African Development Bank, 2019). Let us explore some strategies that businesses can use to prioritize performance and achieve better results. Strategies for Prioritizing Performance in African Businesses While it’s clear that prioritizing performance over ideas is important for achieving success in Africa’s challenging business environment, it can be difficult to know how to make this happen in practice. Here are some strategies that businesses can use to prioritize performance and achieve better results: In conclusion, prioritizing performance over ideas is essential for businesses to achieve long-term success, particularly in the challenging business environment of Africa. By focusing on performance, businesses can differentiate themselves from their competition, build credibility and trust with their customers and other stakeholders, and drive innovation and growth.  By setting clear goals and metrics, focusing on efficiency and process improvement, investing in training and development, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and collaborating with partners and stakeholders, businesses can prioritize performance and achieve better results.  Ultimately, businesses that prioritize performance will be better equipped to overcome the challenges of the African business environment and achieve long-term success. I hope you enjoyed the read. Hit me up, and let’s keep the conversation going! I read all the feedback you send. Also, feel free to throw at me topics you’d like to read or hear my thoughts on. You can always head to my Calendly at calendly.com/maxwellampong or connect with me your own way through my Linktree: https://linktr.ee/themax. Have a blessed week! ♕ —- ♕ —- ♕ —- ♕ —- ♕ References African Development Bank. (2019). African Economic Outlook 2019: Macroeconomic Performance and Prospects. https://www.afdb.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/2019AEO_full-report_En.pdf Davenport, T. H., Harris, J. G., & Morison, R. (2010). Analytics at Work: Smarter Decisions, Better Results. Harvard Business Press. Folta, T. B., Delmar, F., & Wennberg, K. (2010). Hybrid entrepreneurship. Management Science, 56(2), 253-269.  PwC. (2018). Winning in Africa’s consumer market: A transforming landscape. https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/ind

Disability is a natural occurrence. It comes from the interplay of several environmental and individual factors with health disorders. The definition of “disability” and who can be considered a “disabled” person has been a sensitive topic. Persons with disabilities (PWDs) is a general phrase that refers to those who, in comparison to people without disabilities, have some sort of functional limitation and may consequently require or utilize an assistive device in order to accomplish daily activities. That said, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) however, defines people with disabilities as “include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments, which in combination with various barriers may prevent their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”. In Ghana, according to Ghana’s Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), a person with a disability is defined as “an individual who has a physical, mental, or sensory impairment, including a functional disability of the visual, hearing, or speech that results in physical, cultural, or social barriers that substantially limit one or more of that individual’s major life activities” (p.17). People with disabilities are among the most vulnerable members of their communities all across the world. Thus, according to a WHO; UN (2022) report, 16% of the world’s population, or 1.3 billion individuals, are thought to have a major disability: a majority of whom live in developing countries (World Health Organization, 2011). In Africa, for instance, 80 million people are thought of as being disabled. Likewise in Ghana, data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) shows that 8% of Ghana’s population representing some 2.4 million persons have some form of disability as compared to 3% in 2010. These figures are however rising because of the rise in non-communicable diseases and longer lifespans. A wide range of characteristics, including sex, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, colour, ethnicity, and economic condition, affect the experiences of people with disabilities in their daily life as well as their health needs. People with disability typically have more limitations in daily functioning than non-disabled people, as well as a shorter lifespan; the data speaks to this. Persons with disabilities have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity or poor oral health. Inaccessible health facilities are up to 6 times more difficult for persons with disabilities. Accessible and affordable transportation is 15 times more difficult to find for people with disabilities than it is for those without impairments.  Health disparities are also caused by unjust circumstances that affect people with disabilities, such as stigma, discrimination, poverty, exclusion from work and education, and obstacles within the healthcare system. That said, in Ghana, having a disability and households that have a person with a disability experience poverty at more than 10% of the rate of other households. Thus far, the world has fought and advocated so hard for the inclusion of people with disabilities needs in national policies and programs. Despite this considerable lobbying, persons with disabilities continue to face employment and other types of discrimination (Kassah et al., 2004).  In Ghana, when the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) was eventually approved by the Ghanaian Parliament in June 2006, many stakeholders, including persons with disability (PWDs), welcomed it with open arms. PWDs in Ghana were among the fortunate few at the time because the majority of African nations lacked specific disability legislation. This was a dream come true, especially for PWDs in Ghana, giving the long battle that the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) and other civil society organizations waged to convince the Ghanaian Parliament to pass legislation to implement the provisions of Article 29 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. The passing of the Act was regarded as a significant turning point in the nation’s human rights debate since it gave rise to the expectation that it would enhance the lives of PWDs and make it possible for them to integrate into society more fully (Oduro, 2009; Eleweke, 2013). The Act covers a variety of topics, including the establishment and duties of a National Council on Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), rights, accessibility, employment, education, transportation, and health care for PWDs. It also contains a few other provisions. Mitra et al., (2013) discovered that the reasons why persons with disabilities experience disproportionately high rates of poverty include their exclusion from formal and informal education, basic health care, employment, political, and legal processes. As a result, such persons are left with poorer health, fewer marketable skills, reduced self-esteem, and a lack of ability to stand up for their rights (Opoku, Mprah, Dogbe, et al., 2017; Yeo & Moore, 2003).  On a similar note, having a disability is frequently associated with stigma. In Ghana, many families keep disabled relatives hidden from their neighbours within their homes. This is because, disabilities in Ghana have historically been thought to be the result of sorcery, curses, atonement for sins committed against the gods or ancestors, witchcraft, magic, or “juju.” These ideas lead to conflicting attitudes toward disabled people in traditional communities. This restricts how Ghanaian people with disabilities can interact with society. Disabled persons have a quota to the national agenda.  The world over, people with disabilities deserve their fair share. It is a human rights issue with respect to non-discrimination. Take this for instance: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) specifies in its Article 26 that “All individuals are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law without any discrimination.”  In this regard, the law must forbid all forms of discrimination and ensure that everyone has access to equal and effective protection from discrimination based on any factor, including race, colour, sex, language, religion, political opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or another status. Additionally, Article 15 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights states that “Everyone shall have the right to work under just and acceptable conditions and shall be

Every year on February 14, people celebrate Valentine’s Day or rather, the Feast of Saint Valentine. What was first celebrated as a Christian feast day to remember one or more martyred early Christians by the name of Saint Valentine, has today, developed into a significant cultural, religious, and economic celebration of passion and love in many parts of the world. Single men and women tend to feel left out as their feelings of loneliness and even depression get ballooned by the appearance of “love everywhere” at the times just before, during, and just after Valentine’s Day.  Understanding and the awareness can lead to better handling of situations. That said, have you heard, or do you know, the story behind the celebration?  According to various historical accounts, Valentine, was a holy priest in Rome, who was persecuted for his Christian faith and executed on Feb. 14, approximately 270 A.D.  Depending on the source, Valentine’s crimes against the Roman Empire are described differently, but some claim he was detained for covertly officiating Christian soldiers marriages despite Emperor Claudius’ orders to the contrary, while others point to his propensity to aid Christian martyrs in escaping from Roman prisons as his main transgression.  The narrative has had various later embellishments that better connect it to the idea of love. For example, an 18th century addition states that before his execution, he wrote the jailer’s daughter a note addressed to “Your Valentine” as a farewell.  A phrase that is still used today several years on.  In any case, Valentine or the Feast of St. Valentine emerged from obscurity several hundreds of years later when the Christian church had a greater presence in Europe and began its campaign to eradicate pagan rituals, becoming a symbol of love and compassion.  Traditionally in the fourth century B.C, the Romans held an annual rite of passage for young men to the god Lupercus. During this rite, the names of adolescent women were placed in a box and drawn at random by adolescent men; the name of the woman he picked  became a companion for a year of mutual entertainment and pleasure (often sexual), after which another lottery was held. The early church fathers sought a “lovers” saint to replace the deity Lupercus in order to put an end to this eight-hundred-year-old practice. Valentine, a bishop who had been martyred over two centuries before, was identified as a likely candidate.  Thus, in A.D. 496, a stern Pope Gelasius forbade the Lupercian feast in the middle of February. However, he was astute enough to keep the lottery since he was aware of Romans’ fondness for gambling. The names of saints were now inserted into the box that had previously contained the names of available and willing single ladies. Both sexes pulled slips of paper, and they were supposed to follow in the footsteps of the saint whose name they had drawn for the following year. With difficulty and the passing of time, an increasing number of Romans abandoned their pagan celebration in favour of the church’s holy day. Gradually, the “religious” sentiments ascribed to the day depreciated but the lottery aspect of the day remained fairly intact up until the ninth-century.  For instance, in London, from at least the first quarter of the seventeenth century, groups of men and women assembled on the evening of 13 February to take part in valentine lotteries. During the lottery, participants inscribed their names on pieces of paper that were then wrapped up and placed into hats or aprons. “And then, everyone picks a Name, which for the moment is termed their Valentine,” the tradition said. After that, using a predetermined line of rhymed verse for each letter of a person’s name, people would write poems. The verses were fastened to women’s breasts and wrapped around men’s hatbands throughout the following days.  Away from the sermons, by the eighteenth century, what started off as a religious and public rituals had metamorphosed into individual superstitions surrounding love and marriage. One superstition stated that one should kiss the first stranger they see on the morning of February 14 because that stranger is their Valentine. Putting a “slice of the bride-cake, thrice drawn through the wedding ring” or, in the north, a piece of the “groaning cheese” used during christenings, under a pillow is one method people have used to forecast their future spouse, according to dictionaries of popular superstitions. It was said that if an unmarried woman observed a fast on Midsummer’s Eve and set out bread, cheese, and ale on the table, “the person she will later marry will come into the room, and drink to her by bowing.”  In the later years of the eighteenth-century, the superstitious aspects of Valentine’s Day certainly persisted longer in rural areas. This was however met with lots of criticisms. For instance, John Brand, argued that “Christians, or rather Papal Rome,” had “borrowed her Rites, Notions, and Ceremonies, in the most luxurious Abundance from ancient and Heathen Rome,” with celebrations like Valentine’s Day rituals being “stolen out of the Wings of the Dying Eagle.”  On the other hand, the authentic Christian religion was categorically neither enigmatic nor superstitious. Henry Bourne, a curate, asserted that popular rites were either “a Scandal to Religion” and “a promotion of Wickedness” or they had lost their original purpose “through Folly and Superstition.” It was believed that the “ordinary people” who performed these ceremonies held unholy superstitious beliefs that were “either the Produce of Heathenism or the Inventions of lazy Monks.” In the last ten years of the eighteenth century till date, Valentine’s Day became a part of the consumer economy as bookstores, printers, and stationers offered pre-made cards for sale. Thus, a custom that had previously been part of folk rituals was monetized and transformed into a commercial event.  Valentine’s Day, which was marked by the manufacturing of cards made and marketed as desirable consumer goods, was a component of a commercialized culture that featured lucrative entertainments including art exhibitions, balls, the circus, concert series, pleasure gardens,