The Impact Crew: The Definition Of A Leader

I know of one enormous personality on the continent of Africa, a native of South Africa by name Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. If I know nothing about him at all, I know of his long years in prison which serves as a motivational mark for every young individual growing on the surface of that land. It was in prison that he wrote his countless books and essays, contributed to the prospects of his family and the long walk to freedom for the country, South Africa as a whole.

Yes, I know more of his suffering than his luxury and this is what makes him a mentor and a 21^st century leader. Time and space will not permit me to express my profound gratitude to African leaders and great men and women who fought for independence of Africans as well as conservatives like Herbert Samuel Macaulay and the challenges he encountered in fighting a good course as the father of Nigerians nationalism, Dr. Edward Wilmet Blyden of Liberia and his tears shed that made Liberia what it is today and it’s no justification that Casley Hayford of Ghana bestowed on him the respected title of ‘father of African Nationalism’.

On the international front we all know of one woman by name Helen Adams Keller, an American author, political activist and lecturer born blind and deaf. Despite her multiple disabilities, she rose above all those adversities of being blind and deaf and became one of the greatest leading humanitarian in the 20^th century. She wrote countless books and essays. She campaigned and her name was on the lips of every growing girl of her time, Helen is celebrated because of her inspiration and the impact of her achievements. I know of her struggles, strength and fears and these are what make her a leader worth celebrating by Americans and the world at large.

Born in Washington, in the year 1955, is one of the famous men of our time who is in the person of Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft’s. His time in the classroom tells it that he was a poor learner and could make nothing better in life. His fears are well known. The case is different as in today. William Bill Gates strived to the ladder of success despite his poor performance in school which led to his dismissal. We have leaders today who boast of never failing in class. I wonder if they are walking encyclopedias.

To talk of a man of our time, I know of a lecturer, politician and a business man by name John Evans Attah Mills. This is a person who served this great country till his demise. He fought for the seat of presidency for eight (8) good years and lastly, he became the president of the republic. Many Ghanaians were proud of him as a leader and not a looter. He served this great nation till the last breath. Today, Ghanaians are celebrating a man with the same story who is in the person of the president of the republic of Ghana; Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo - Addo. The fears, struggles and defeats of these personalities are well known and it’s on these indications that define their leadership. He has a story and for the long fight for the seat of presidency. This defines him as a leader because at least, he has been through the pains of knowing how it is to lack the power to have something that you wish. If one gets something in a case of accident, he jokes with it and thinks all is well. The only name we hear when it comes to Ghanaian leadership is Kwame Nkrumah as if he is the only man who had ever lived on the surface of this land. Nkrumah too had fears so there is no hard feeling to fail and accept the very fact that you have a hand again to make amends and move on courageously.

In Ghana today, as a youth, I look around to see great men and women who have made great significance in their lives, but I can’t boast of them. Allegations are raised tagging them as corrupt and involving in drugs or even to some extent money ritual. I know of their fame, but as to being of value, I can’t think far. We live in a country where the president and members of parliament has no name, there is no record of their fears, their struggles and the impact they make on the life of the ordinary people of the land. What is the prove of their leadership? We have leaders who lack social communication and humility. Our country is full of pastors who behave like angels who have not sinned before. Leaders of our land only boast of their titles, their certificates, the number of wives, the number of concubines, the number of foreign accounts, the servants they enslave, the political party they belong and the number of luxurious cars they ride. Change the language and prove the value of your relevance.

Please honourables change the language. What the youth expects from you is not the wealth and all. We can only be inspired by your fears and struggles and your many days in the dark and in the gutters. Enough of letting the youth knows of the empire you have built over the years from the set of the poor. These things benefit the youth nothing but it only speeds us the quest to get rich overnight. The times of hunger and sweats are the only lessons we can learn from you because it will serve a motivational mark to help the youth on the ride to hit their springboard.

As Jesus Christ said, ‘celebrate my death’. This in a way means we are to celebrate His scars as he showed to Thomas the notorious doubter his palms. Today’s pastors boast more than unbelievers. I pray the language change.

Akwasi Brobbey
(Senior writer and editor at TIC)
[email protected]
0548412192/0266175686