Transformational Leadership Concepts, a behavioral and attitudinal change advocacy group recently held its third Time Keeping dialogue for the year. The dialogue was on the theme, of Time and Times – The Intergenerational Perspective.
The dialogue hosted Professor Lade Wosornu, a distinguished professor of surgeon and a poet, Yvonne Oppong Ayisi, Manager of Trustees and Capital Markets, CBG, Mercedes Rowe Asamani, Political and Social Affairs Officer, All African students Union, Redeemer Buatsi, an investigative journalist and a youth leader.
It also featured Jessey Sedinam Fiagbenu, a recent graduate of Morgan International School.
In their submissions, the speakers bemoaned the total disregard for time by majority of Ghanaians. They also spoke about how lateness impacts project execution. This attitude of poor time management, they noted, have serious consequences and affects every facet of our lives. These include burdening people who are time conscious with extra work and going beyond the stipulated project deadlines which impacts national development.
Contributing further to the discussion, it became apparent that most young people tend to think they have more time. “They engross themselves in entertainment and spend most of their time on social media and other activities that add no value to their lives, ’ one of the speakers observed. This in effect often make them incapable of competing globally.
The guests also noted that the lack of time management is impacting the younger generation negatively. They therefore called on parents and socialization agents such as the schools and churches to reinvent and inculcate in the younger generation the values of time keeping.
In conclusion, the speakers called for sanctions and consequences to be imposed for lateness. They particularly mentioned public officials who are always late to events and functions. Participants were encouraged to name and shame officials and organizations that lack respect for time.
The event was attended by a diverse group of people including traditional leaders, professors, professionals, and students and was under the Chairmanship of the Chief of Adidome and Co-Convener of the dialogue, Togbe Kwasinyi Kakakloko Agyeman V. It was hosted and moderated by Mrs Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, a communication for development advocate.
The Time keeping initiative is being undertaken to help in creating a better Time Keeping culture in Ghana. It was launched to improve the chronic lateness and lack of respect for time and timekeeping in Ghana. The national timekeeping initiative is targeted at policy makers, media, legislators, event organizers, corporate leaders, politicians, teachers, professionals, the youth, civil society and behavioral change agents.
