In a recent engagement at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra, a renowned Nigerian lawyer Femi Falana spoke about the dearth of quality leadership in the politics of the West African sub-region.This dearth he said accounts for the motley challenges including insecurity which have bedeviled the sub-region.
Making the right leadership choice is very critical in the democracy every country wants to be seen to be practicing.
It is important for the electorate to make the right choices by among others studying the posturing of those who seek their nods from the internal polls of their various political parties to the national levels.
One of Ghana’s two dominant political parties, one of which at any given time produces the president and therefore a government for the country is on the verge of choosing a flagbearer. The process has begun with some individuals vying the coveted flagbearership position as they canvass for votes from members of the now expanded college.
Expectedly the heat is on and the posturing within one of the circles is not too enthusing. Tribal and ethnocentric bigotry has held sway within the circles of Hon Kennedy Agyepong, a trend which came under strong criticism by watchers of the campaign.Intemperate language does not make for decent and convincing communication…describing opponents as slaves is certainly unacceptable.
Former President Akufo-Addo had cause to take a swipe at the tendency.
Former President Kwame Nkrumah’s Avoidance Of Discrimination Act of 1957 was intended to obviate the challenges posed by such ethnocentric tendencies. It is worrying therefore that sixty eight years after independence some politicians would still want to tread this toxic line of politics.
As if this is not enough drawback to our local politics we have noticed inconsistencies in the remarks of Kennedy Agyepong which present fault lines worthy of tackling.
Moral integrity of those seeking leadership in whatever form must be of paramount importance. He is reported to have said that he has under his employment over seven thousand employees, figure which is incommensurate with the reality.
That is not to say that those who employ even one person should not be commended but exaggerating figures or others cast slurs on the integrity of the originators.
Prospective political leaders should be above board…their Emotional Intelligence should not be questionable.
Perhaps we would like to know whether or not the over seven thousand workers the businessman claims to have employed have their social security entitlements updated and whether the tax obligations thereof are okay. After all those who want to lead must be in good moral standing.
Offensive conduct, be it the spewing of vitriolic against other contenders is another factor delegates should look out for when choosing their leaders.
When someone who chaired the Ghana Gas Company claims today that he was not part of the erstwhile government the issue of integrity is prompted and rightly so.
