Conference

1st International Conference on Africa Mindset Transformation and System Thinking (ICAM^TST 2024)

Background

Historically, Africa has been subjected to exploitation by imperial powers, and this has impacted negatively on Africa’s socio-economic development and human dignity. Africa has progressed very slowly in terms of improvement to human, economic, and environmental development. The historical record reveals that since the independence of African countries, the continent has rarely led the process of defining a development agenda (Easterly, 2006).
Colonization left African countries with institutions and infrastructure designed to extract and export resources, rather than add value to resources (Nnadozie, 2013). The continent seems to have lost ownership due to the so call colonization effect and several other factors. Clearly, the ascendancy of corruption; low display of ethical standards and attitudes; unhealthy office politics, inefficient justice, and political systems, to mention a few, are some of the contributing factors of loss of ownership.
Also, the most often ignored and yet dominant factor that has retarded Africa’s development agenda and loss of a sense of ownership is the Mindset Factor. Taking charge of Africa’s ownership and its destiny demands a radical change in the African way of thinking, which has to do with waiting for development to occur, to an approach that pragmatically and actively catalyzes development processes.
Clearly, the Transformation of African Mentality is a Fundamental Requirement to the Development and transformation of African Societies (Okpalike, 2014). This desirable systemic change requires that the development process be preceded by the shaping of people’s mindsets.
Transformational change happens at the level of mindsets, and this is certainly true for rebuilding our national unity and valid for creating prosperity as well (Paul Kagame, 2016). The most important transformation is the transformation of our mindset. We must believe that we can do what other countries and continents have done. We must have a mindset of making things possible, we must have a “can-do mindset” and work together to drive the continent’s economic transformation agenda (Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, 2018).
Nations that have recently developed exponentially-China, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, UAE, just to mention a few are countries whose socio-economic fortunes have been revolutionised by radical mindset shifts. For instance, the American companies listed in the Fortune 500 companies represent 80% of the world’s largest companies by revenue and profit. These companies have been able to remain in diverse markets, enhancing their fi nancial performance and continuing to add value to their shareholders due to their Mindset Optimism Culture.
Their experiences thereof can be emulated by Africa and in particular, Ghana by developing a holistic mindset capital that would serve as a springboard for meeting the sustainable development goals. Given our current sociopolitical-cultural-economic reality, it is important that Africans and Black people everywhere develop a mentality that allows us to focus on ourselves, build partnerships and institutions, create relationships with allies, and learn to be as proactively self-suffi cient as possible. To do so, it is necessary that we understand our shared histories and use them to radically imagine an entirely different way of living; and hence and hence the birth of the 1st International Conference on Africa Mindset Transformation and System Thinking (ICAMTST 2024)

Theme

Renewing African Mindset for Sustainable Development in Africa

SubThemes/Tracks

ICAMTST-2024 brings big issues out and covers a wide range of topics from both industrial and academic perspectives. Practitioner viewpoints, practitioner technical papers, academic papers and poster presentations from politicians, industry practitioners, foreign missions and consulates, businessmen and entrepreneurs, students and academics covering but not limited to the following topics are welcome:

Developing the Right Mindset for Family Lifestyle, Wellbeing, Attitudinal Changes and Relationship Coaching

The Role of Africa Family Units and Families of African Descendants in Africa’s Transformational Efforts.
Developing the Mindsets of Africans and African Families for sustainable Development.
The Role of Health, Hygiene, Safety and Security Mentality of Africans in Africa’s Development Effort.
Stress Management, Wellbeing and Happy Living of Africans and Africa Families.
Altering Attitudinal and Behavioural Imbalances in Africa’s Social Systems.
Breaking the Systemic Codes of wrong Addictions and Attitudinal Change.
Projecting Africa’s dignity locally and abroad through the return to Africa’s Cultural and Ethical Values and Institutional Support Systems.
Changing the Attitudinal and Behavioural Mindsets Africans on Environment and Waste Management.

Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement and Trade Investments in Africa

The Role of Africa Free Trade Area Agreement in Africa’s Transformation Efforts
Sustainability of the Africa Free Trade Area Agreement
Sustainable Trade and Investment Systems in Africa
Governance System of the Africa Free Trade Area Agreement
Effective Border Management of the Africa Free Trade Area Agreement
Sustainable Policies and Regulations of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area
The Role of Local, Regional, National, Regional and Continental Bodies in Achieving the Goals of Africa Free Trade Area
Industrialization of Africa through Africa Free Trade Area Agreement
Creating Enabling Business Environment for Africa Free Trade Area Agreement
African Economies and Business Opportunities in Africa
Creating Partnerships and Market Access for African Entrepreneurs and Businessmen

Leveraging Strategic Partnerships with African Diasporans for Global Repositioning

The Contributions of the African Diaspora towards Economic Development and Transformation of Africa
Reconfiguration of African Diasporan Systemic Mindset through System Thinking Mechanism
Internal commonalities of race relations created for the non-progression of African Unity and its damage on the sustainable development goals in Africa
Systems approach to Diaspora engagement and sustainable development
Recovering the purpose and resilience of Africans for global positioning
Bringing African Diasporan home for Business, Trade Investments and Entrepreneurship
Partnering with African Diasporan for Systemic Transformation of Africa
The Role African Foreign Missions in Mobilizing African Diasporan for Economic Development and Transformation of Africa

Africa’s Resource Geopolitics and Diplomacy Mindset for Systemic Transformation

Sustainable Resource Mobilization for Systemic Transformation in Africa
Resource Management Mindset for Systemic Transformation
Wealth Creation and Management for Systemic Transformation in Africa
Recovering Africa’s Resource Deposits and Africa’s Resource Curse Syndrome
Developing Value Addition Mindset for Africa’s Natural Resources
Systemic Mindsets for Financial Sustainability and Independence in Africa
Leveraging on Africa’s Natural Resources for Global Repositioning
Integrating Volunteerism in Protecting and Utilizing Africa Natural Resources
The Mentality of Development Partners and Africa’s Resource Geopolitics
Resolving Africa’s Energy Resource Conundrum for Systemic Transformation

Political and Governance Systems Architecture for Systemic Transformation in Africa

Governance Systems Thinking of Public and Private Sector Institutions in Africa
Building strong institutions and institutional Reforms in Africa
Africa’s Renewed Takeover-Over Mindset for Global Leadership
New Conversation on Sustainable Political Parties Financing in Africa
System Thinking Approach to Africa’s Electoral Systemic Conundrum
Local Governance Systems and Local Economic Development Mindsets in Africa
African Electorate Mindsets for Sustainable and Accountable Government
Political Parties Administration and Campaign Management

African Leadership Mentality, Organizational Mindset and Future of Work in Africa

Rebuilding Africa Political Leadership Mindset for Sustainable Development
Developing Ethical Leadership Mindset in tackling Corruption in Africa
Traditional Leadership Partnerships in Sustainable Development of Africa
The Role of Religious Leadership in Systemic Mindset Transformation in Africa
Performance Indicators of Systemic Mindset Transformation
Africans Institutional System Thinking Approach and Corporate Performance
Organizational and Individual Mindsets for Economic Development in Africa
Leadership Mindsets and Future of Work in Africa
Business as Unusual- a new approach of sustainable Business Practice in Africa
Leadership in Mentorship, Apprenticeship and Skills Training for Systemic Transformation in Africa

Infrastructure Systems Thinking, Urban Systems Planning and Green Cities Development in Africa

Educational Infrastructure Development in Africa
Healthcare Infrastructure Development in Africa
Energy Infrastructure Development in Africa
Housing Infrastructure Development in Africa
Road Infrastructure Development in Africa
Urban Mobility and Transportation System in Africa
Infrastructure Renewal and Retrofitting in Africa
Telecommunication Infrastructure Development in Africa
Green and Smart Cities Development in Africa

Social Inclusiveness and Social Governance Mindset in Africa

Sustainable Healthcare Systems in Africa
Sustainable Justice and Judicial Systems In Africa
Security and Public Services Administration Systems in Africa
Social Investment and as a Tool for the Development of Africa
Social Entrepreneurship and NGO Governance in Africa
Social Enterprise and Impact on Africa’s Development
Social Entrepreneurship and Youth Unemployment
Innovative Financing Structure for Africa’s Social Infrastructure
Social Entrepreneurship and Gender Inclusiveness.
Social Entrepreneurship and Persons Living with Disabilities

Food Security and Climate-Smart Agricultural Technology Mindset in Africa

Hemp for Climate Change and Regenerative Agriculture
Exploration of Industrial, Medicinal and Nutritional Use of Hemp
Rural Youth Communities and Agricultural Technology
Greenhouse Innovations and Agricultural Technology
The Future of Hemp and Agricultural Development in Africa
Hemp Education, Research, Training and Campaign in Africa
Agribusiness, Agripreneurship, Agro Processing and Value Addition
Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture and Food Production in Africa

Developing Apposite Mindset for Education and Professional Practice in Africa

Sustainable Educational Systems in Africa
Educational reforms, Policy formulation and Implementation in Africa
New Mindset for Basic Education Systems in Africa
Sustainability of Higher Education Institutions in Africa
Development of Middle Level Manpower Development in Africa
Professional Institutions and the Conduct of Professionalism in Africa
Technical and Vocational Educations Skills Training and Development in Africa
Research and Development, Capacity Building and Training

Cultivating the Mindset of African Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship

The role of African Women in Sustainable development of Africa
Women empowerment and involvement in Africa political system thinking
Women empowerment and involvement in Professional practice in Africa
Engendering Women in Business and Entrepreneurship in Africa
Women Leadership in Educational System Thinking in Africa
Women in Corporate Leadership System Thinking in Africa
Women in Religious Leadership System Thinking in Africa

Building Peace, Security, Justice Systems and Strong Institutions

Developing institutional mindset for building stronger institutions in Africa
Developing and improving patriotism mindset in Africa
Justice systems administration and the rule of law
Police Service administration and empowerment
Defence service systems administration and empowerment
Correctional and prison systems administration and empowerment
Fire service systems administration and emergency response reediness
Peace, security and confl ict resolution mindsets in Africa regions

Religious Affairs and Chieftaincy Institutions in Africa

The role of religious systems in systemic transformation of Africa
Africa’s traditional system of leadership and systemic transformation
Traditional systems mindset in Africa
Cultural systems in Africa and systemic transformation
Traditional leadership mindset and systemic Transformation
Chieftaincy and Religious Institutions in Africa

Purpose of Conference

ICAMTST-2024 will convene a dynamic group of people from across Africa, industries, and agencies—both public and private sector to discuss and debate of critical issues interconnected with citizenry mindset capital and national development.
ICAMTST-2024 will expose participants to how they can harness opportunities around them as catalyst for change.
ICAMTST-2024 will provide participants the unique opportunity to learn from international speakers who have led Fortune 500 organisations and middle- income countries to identify and exploit opportunities for exponential growth.
ICAMTST-2024 will tackle pertinent issues that guide citizenry behaviour and key overarching issues that can result in effective leadership and responsible citizenship.
ICAMTST-2024 will open discussions and lay to bear the power of Citizenry Mindset Configuration—both at the organisational and national levels— and how it is an indispensable strategic asset of the future we so much desire.
ICAMTST-2024 is about understanding what, why, when, where, and how systems work today and how they can work better tomorrow in Ghana and Africa.

Impact/Outcome of ICAM^TST 2024 Conference

The conference is expected to bring together over 600 participants (in-person and virtually) including researchers, academics, business executives. political leaders and institutions with interest in issues of governance, system thinking and mindset transformation from many countries. It is envisaged that this will bring about cross fertilization of ideas and help bridge gap between researchers, academia and industry which is one of the major challenges of higher education in Africa.
Over 200 business executives, political leaders and regulatory institutions will through the Conference expand their knowledge of new research fi ndings and innovations so that they can apply to improve business decisions and strategic initiatives.
The Conference will renew the interest of private and public institutions in system thinking approach of Africa’s economic transformation agenda.
The Conference is expected to bring legal and regulatory reforms in some countries based on new research fi ndings and recommendations that will be shared and lead to public sector reforms especially on corporate governance-based interactions between industry, researchers and academics.
The outcome of ICAMTST 2024 will have implications for stakeholders, particularly, political leaders and top management leaders, who will have the discussions and workshops handy in promoting a better understanding of the intersection and interaction between mindset, system thinking and sustainable economic development of Ghana.
The conference will contribute immensely towards the achievement of 7 of the 17 SDGS as follows.