•Oil has been discovered in Ghana, both, on and offshore? How will that be used in a way that the benefits reach all of Ghana?  

That has been a very exciting finding. Ghana’s offshore oil should be making a difference by the second half of 2010, but the big discovery is the onshore oil. The IMF estimates we could be putting out 120,000 barrels of oil per day sometime soon. But we have to be very careful as this is something that can simply not make a difference to the lives of people, as it is an extractive industry. Our parliament is in the process of debating laws for how the oil must be tapped, and an information law which makes the process transparent. You cannot imagine how much gold we had, but it left the lives of people completely untouched. We have to ensure that oil does make a positive difference to the lives of people and empowers them, and it is not stolen. The Nigerian experience has taught us to be more reflective while framing rules with companies.

•The leadership question haunts your continent as it does several other developing countries. 

I am happy that the ideas that my father proposed, a dream then, have at least made it to the table of the Organisation of African Unity in 2007 — that itself is a leap. I was living away, but it is not just me, several young people are coming back to Africa, not just to ‘lead’ but to engage in the politics of listening, I am learning so much from people, they don’t need me to preach. Not just me, but I am one of three young contemporaries in different political parties who have an open mind, who are ‘returnees’ and believe in new methods to lead our countries to a better future. The Cold War claimed so many of our progressive leaders. When any leader looked West and then East, he was immediately suspect and was deposed. No country has suffered more from the Cold War than Africa — we lost decades. But that has also created solidarity between African nations and we must build upon it.