June 3, 2015 had been referred by many in Ghana as a ‘black day’. This is the day that massive flood amidst fire killed almost 200 innocent Ghanaians, who were standing around circle in their cars, under sheds, at the shell filling station, in stores, et al, waiting for the rain to subside so they go home. People were screaming hard for life as they got burnt in flood water, that could have been averted should the right, selfless, committed and action-oriented leadership being put in the helm of affairs.
Several promises upon promises continue to be made by leaders in charge in their arsenal against this ‘anthropogenic’ canker that had become an albatross around the neck of the people of Ghana. That notwithstanding, Accra continues to flood even upon the slightest rain drop. In fact, in Accra, it floods even when sachet water bursts.
This raises questions about the competency of the leadership in place. Is the problem a result of engineering failure, people's behaviour, lack of funds or policy issue? This issue i think is solely a question of leadership. It is as a result of unpatriotic, uncommitted and lack of walking the talk leaders in place. Hon. Oko VanderPuije, the mayor of Accra, admitted he had failed the people of Accra. Since, the mayor himself admitted he had failed, it means the man who put him there too had failed.
In fact, the government in its entirety had failed the people of Ghana at large and people of Accra in particular as far as this issue of persistent flooding of Accra is concern. It is about who is in charge. When a football team fails to perform, it is the coach who gets the blame and sacked. Why did Chelsea sack Maurino? Why did Ghana Football Association sack Kwesi appiah, the former Black Stars' coach? Why did FIFA sack and arrested Blatter on the FIFA corruption allegation/saga? When students fail to deliver in their final exams, it is the teacher in charge who gets the blame and not the students.
In fact, students' performance in its entirety hinges on the quality of the teacher in charge. How is teacher's performance evaluated? How is the national best farmer adjudged? They are all evaluated and adjudged based on the performance on the ground. The leader who fails to deliver fails her own people on the ground.
We will not even go far. We could borrow some few leaves from enviable exemplary leadership styles from just two countries in our own continent. First is Rwanda. In Rwanda, Paul Kagame's government had put the donor money to good use and the results are now there for all to see. Kagame will forever be remembered for turning Rwanda into one of the cleanest countries in the world...
More to follow soon in part 2...
Albert Kobina Mensah, M.Sc. (IWM/IWRM), Nairobi; B.Sc. (Agric), Cape Coast.
E-mail: [email protected]
Facebook: Kobina Ebo Mensah
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