Leaders Voices by Leaders of Africa

In this COVID-19 era public health concerns take center stage. The spread of the virus has exposed the healthcare infrastructure worldwide and underscores the importance of a social safety net for health. Today’s hosts Peter and Jelili have a two-part conversation with Joyline Chepkorir, the founder of Mwangaza Cancer Initiative and Eniola Omoro Akintunde the founder of Niola Cancer Care Foundation. Their organizations are leading initiatives in their communities in Kenya and Nigeria respectively to combat the spread of cancer through screenings, public education, and advocacy.

Most experts indicate that Ghana requires more lawyers distributed across the country. Despite the need for more lawyers, the entrance exam to the Ghana Law School has an extremely high failure rate. In 2019, 93% of all exam takers failed the exam. Prince Ganaku, one of the founders of the Ghana National Association of Law Students, explains how law education works in Ghana, reflects on policy, and offers a personal perspective that is often overlooked in the ongoing debate.

Under 15% of seats in Ghana’s national parliament are occupied by women. This figure raises questions about women’s inclusion in politics and activism more broadly. Gloria provides a first-person account of her involvement in empowering women economically and politically, as well as the challenges ahead for gender inclusion. She also reflects on the importance of considering larger-scale projects of institutional redesign to support a healthy and inclusive body politic.

Nesta conversa com Dog Murras abordamos sobre o papel que a juventude Angolana terá em relação ao desenvolvimento do país. Exploramos a jornada de jovens Angolanos, seus desafios, e também possíveis soluções tendo em conta o clima econômico do país. Dog Murras desafia a juventude Angola a comprometer-se com o desenvolvimento do país.In this conversation with Dog Murras, we discuss the Angolan youth’s role in the country's development. Dog Murras explores the challenges facing Angolan youth and points to possible steps individuals should take to move the country forward.

The integration of Africa has been the long-term dream of many Pan-Africanists, and gradually, the African Union and some of its member states have been working toward this goal. Africa Union Agenda 2063 desires to create an “Africa We Want” based on inclusive growth and sustainable development. Leaders Voices features a conversation with Ms. Maame Darkowa Awinador, who is an international trade law expert and an advocate for the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Maame discusses the feasibility of AfCFTA trade policy and its implications for African countries, particularly smaller economies.

Leaders Voices presents an interview with Mr. Franklin Cudjoe who is the founder, president, and chief executive officer of IMANI-Africa Center for Policy and Education. Cudjoe reflects on conducting policy analysis and best practices for consistent policy monitoring. #LeadersVoices

Leaders Voices presents an interview with Mr. Innocent Chukwuma who is the Regional Director for West Africa at the Ford Foundation. Chukwuma reflects on how he became involved in civil society work and shares his thoughts on the preparations for Nigeria’s upcoming 2019 general elections. #LeadersVoices

How effective has Kenya’s 2010 Constitution been at promoting women in politics? Analysis and Educational Outreach presents an interview with Dr. Beatrice Akala who is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg. Dr. Akala discusses the barriers that exist for women pursuing politics and public service in Kenya.