The majority of our leaders seem overly concerned with money, honour, praise, power, comfort, security, and luxury. These people care less about our collective development. Many will compromise their positions, take bribes and corrupt the electorate because they want to win elections in a country where politics and culture is completely going mad. We do not want the rule of law, freedom of speech, independence and discipline because they would lose elections and their privileges.
While most people would argue that we are still not a failed state, the desperate attempt to capture and control resources has unleashed a desperate band of bad leaders who are nothing but crooks fighting dirty for control over our resources – the people, minerals and the rents. Our democracy has become chaotic and corruption reigns supreme in the corridors of power. Ghanaians have become a fractious, combative group when it comes to politics and elections.
It is hard to miss the signs that partisan contempt has become more pervasive and toxic. The personal has become the political, and politics has become all too bitterly personal. Those men and women who strut the villages and towns and claim to represent ‘we the people’ have shirked the true calling of leadership, to serve and sacrifice self for others.
What this country has always have, since independence, is a large national movement of demagogic, spineless leaders willing to justify mob violence to claim political power. That movement still exists. It does so because its members believe their opponents are not “real” patriots. We cannot cure the toxic partisanship that plagues this country with a change in presidential attitude. The modern presidency is a divider, not a unifier. It has become too powerful to be anything else.
Presently, for the love of unbridled power, leaders in both parties go to every extent to oust anybody who opposes them from positions of influence in their parties. They believe themselves unjustly persecuted, define reality for their followers and insist that a legitimate election and a stable party they control and win. Presently, for the love of unbridled power, leaders in both parties go to every extent to oust anybody who opposes them from positions of influence in their parties. They believe themselves unjustly persecuted, define reality for their followers and insist that a legitimate election the one they win, and a stable party, the one they control.
A liberal democracy cannot long endure if leaders believe defeat is illegitimate and must be rendered impossible. Our multi-party democracy where the majority party gets to rule is not necessarily undesirable. However, when multi-party democracy leads to state capture, political exclusion and a crony economy where the ruling elites and their partisans only benefits, it become undesirable and politically dangerous. Ironically, this is what bad leadership has turned this country into — consolidating sectional interests, made the state the major source of power and wealth.
A constitutional crisis looms. The 2024 election could bring “chaos. Imagine weeks of competing mass protests across multiple constituencies as lawmakers from both parties claim victory and charge the other with unconstitutional efforts to take power.
The harsh truth is ‘we the people’ are to blame for the lack of leadership. We choose our corrupt leaders by voting for them, signing on to agenda and sing their praises even when they misrule the country; we readily accept and give unquestioning allegiance to anyone who come in shining armour and an egalitarian promise. We get the leaders we choose.
We do not expect our leaders to be perfect or saints. However, if we truly love and support our leaders, we have to be honest with them. We have to criticize them truthfully and tell them when they are doing it wrong! They should change their attitudes and lead us the right way!
This article is meant to oust leaders and aspiring leaders that do not pass a certain qualification. This article is a cry for authentic, masculine, altruistic leadership. The hour is very late. This is the time voters and citizens who are tired of being seduced by the false imagery of false leaders and tricked by those who exploit our poverty for personal gain, to reject the double-talk and false rhetoric, going forward. This is necessary if we claim we are tired of leaders who enrich themselves at our expense.
The following qualities of an effective leader of our nation may be too idealistic, but we believe that we can still find some (if not all) of these traits in a person who is or who will be worthy to become a leader in our nation:
- Accountability. A good leader understands that he (she) is the head of the state. When the nation falls, he acknowledges his responsibility rather than blame his opponents and critics.
- Respect. A good leader respects the constitution, abides by the rule of law. He also listens and respects the views of both critics and opponents.
- Cohesiveness. An effective leader promotes unity among his people rather than causing them to divide and have meaningless fights.
- Humility. An effective leader admits his mistakes and weaknesses. He also acknowledges that he is not good at everything. That is why he delegates.
- Honesty. An effective leader upholds truth and integrity. He preserves the trust and confidence given to him by the people. And of course, he doesn’t embezzle the funds of the nation.
- Wisdom. A wise president knows how to discern right from wrong. He knows how to make the right decisions. He shows maturity of the mind. His words provide power and enlightenment to all.
- Courage. A great leader of a nation has the courage to execute the decisions that he believes are right. He is not afraid to stand and fight for the truth, and accept the truth, for the sake of his fellow citizens.
The qualities above are not exhaustible. It is possible to have leaders who possess these qualities in our nation. We believe there are, indeed, a tiny few of our leaders who faithfully strive to serve the people each day. However, there are also far too many who are dangerous to this country. The wounds from their sins run very deep. We need leaders who will rise up and do things right for this nation before the hour is too late.
We are at war. This nation needs to be saved from bad leaders who have turned our democracy into an era to demonise opponents and critics, and made us see each other as adversaries, not as neighbours. We must demand that the shouting should stop and the temperature lowered. Without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury.
Source: By Kwadwo Afari
