The fact of the matter is that, no leader can achieve greatness or success single handedly. A leader needs to be supported in the execution of his/her functions by his/her lieutenants. The behaviour and demeanour of some of the leader's appointees can cause him or her a great deal and the consequences will be dire. Their behaviours can also tell whether they are ready to serve the interests of the people or not. So, the leader is expected to be meticulous in taking decisions as to, who represents him/her in/at what, when and where.
During this moment, there are intensive angling and lobbying for positions which could put undue pressure on the leader. The lucky persons who get to be chosen must be men and women of reputation, integrity and credibility. They should be personalities who can command respect from all directions. But as it is said respect is earned. So, who ever gets to be selected must work hard to earn the respect of the people. How is respect earned? We earn respect not by accident or by sheer dint of our riches, certificates, lineages, status, eloquence or pulchritude. But, by the piquancy of our words and actions. These cherish(ed) values but easy to accomplish acts, are gradually becoming an expensive commodity amongst most of our leaders who get to be appointed.
The behaviours of some of our leaders are concerns for many. The reason being that, these categories of people are the face of our society and most importantly, role models for the young ones. So we cannot afford, as a people to give them a leeway to put up attitudes and behaviours that are alien to our norms. Because, this will have the tendency to corrupt the young ones who will assume leadership positions tomorrow.
In the not quite distant past, we have witnessed massive rot and decay concerning our leaders and they seem not to be helping resolve these problems. These problems of our leaders bother on several moral aptitudes which are inimical to our society. This ranges from issues of intemperate language, lies, malice, incompetence to sexual immorality, bribery and corruption. One may ask how did this come to be part of us, as a people? Especially, as we are made to believe that political leadership means high levels of education. Is it our religious institutions that do not instill in us the appropriate teachings of manners and orientations. Or it is our upbringing and societal perceptions? In all this, it appears to me that, our educational system is not working as expected. The sense and spirit of nationalism and patriotism are not suffused in us from the onslaught, hence this problem. However, they may be other contributory factors.
Name calling used to be common in our body politic. We heard terms such as 'sasabrusam', poodle, konongo kaya', womanizer, short man devil, murderers, gay, cocaine sniffer etc. Most of these pronouncements were made on campaign platforms by politicians so people did not take them seriously. But whenever they came up, the authors of those terms unreservedly apologised. Until recently, I thought this has become a thing of the past. It has rather unfortunately, found its way into our politics once again. This ugly "animal" has surfaced again and now what we hear are "wicked president " and "a president with a devil's heart". The disgraceful part of it is, the perpetrators of this hideous act are neither ashamed nor apologetic. They stand by it and try to justify it with pride. If we indulge them, what will then become the future of the young ones? what will be our culture, our heritage, our dignity and identity?
The media most often than not, is the very brewery pot, in which these problems are distilled. The media is inundated with foul language and insults. Political discussions that are to inform, apparently turn to assaults. Hate speeches which do not yield results. As all this goes on, the young ones emulate and grow up with these cyclical faults. A case in point is the ongoing ministerial vetting.
As a teacher and for that matter a stakeholder, I write to condemn this in no uncertain terms. And, I wish to register my utmost disgust and repulsion to one of the nominees who took her turn yesterday. Though, I did not follow her vetting through out, the snippets I have heard are enough to make an informed take on her vetting.
I am highly disappointed in the minister-nominee for children, gender and social protection - Madam Otiko, Afisa Djaba for her rudeness and childishness. I least expected this to have come from a nominee, whose core mandate and function would bother the vulnerable section of the society. She will be occupying a very most sensitive ministry amongst the lot. So, she needed to be very apt and frank with the questions posed by the committee members even in the face of provocations. But was she aware that, she was before the august House of Parliament? The house of national representatives. Did she take into knowingness the young minds which were listening or watching? What was all this attitude of hers for? Did she think she was on a radio discussion panel or what? Maybe I am not getting the travesty right! But in all seriousness, any mature and sensible person will have a disposition and humility to accept his or her shortfalls. Especially, when they are brought up for him/her to have a moment of reflection and solemness.
After months of making these palpable irresponsible comments, she was categorically not ready to accept the fact that her act and comments about the former president were unsavoury. Ah! What kind of empty pride is this? The unbelievable thing is that, some people praise her for this disgrace. This 'blockheadedness'! These actions of hers were completely, adamance and arrogance and certainly not confidence.
She was trying to exhibit a show of bravado and defiance. This could not have tickled the fancy of any well-meaning Ghanaians. In any which way, she got it all wrong. She is not the reason why the NPP won the 2016 elections and she must get this in her "empty head". No one is sacrosanct! We did not, at least I, vote for president Nana Addo for appointees of her sort to show senseless and needless defiance to simple issues such as retraction and apology. Even the senior minister, to whom she will be reporting, retracted and apologised to the committee when his attention was drawn to portions of his submissions that were unparliamentary.
Maybe, she needs to be reminded that, arrogance and pomposity of government officials were the biggest part of the reasons why we booted the NDC out of power. She should have been a bit considerate and moderate to eat the humble pie instead of being cheeky. After all what are we but mere mortals. So, why did she find it so difficult to accept her mistakes and apologise. I still dot not understand her. I used to admire her for her boisterous and vocal nature on the political scene and consider her a fine personality. But, she has rather clearly shown that, she is naively obstinate, which is an apology of womanhood.
She repeated exactly what she was been guided against. This for me, was a deliberate attempt to disregard the humble suggestions or wisdom by some members of the appointment committee, for her to show some civility and decorum in her response. She intentionally put up this conspicuous contemptuous misdemeanour towards the honourable members.
I am utterly surprised that some people are hailing her for taking that unpopular stance and describing her responses as sophistry and eloquence of tapestry. This is far from that. I see those responses of hers to be naked cheekiness rather than wittiness.
If this group of people wants us to go by her standards, then I will not be far from right, to term her countenance on the vetting committee as "witchlike" or "prostitute-like". I hope she will take this kindly! Why not! She said, she was only describing the former president and above words are also descriptive. What! Were those, the best of descriptions she could have afforded former president Mahama? What a shame!
If I was one of those who hailed her yesterday for her fortitude I will most definitely be part of those who will tell her the truth today for her servitude. Especially, when she alluded to the fact that, the former president needed to be told the fact as it was. She also said the former president is her brother hence, her malicious comments. I consider her attacks on the former president as personal, and if that is the case, she should find means of settling her differences with former president John Mahama rather than venting her frustrations and empty pride on national television.
So by this, is she trying to tell us that, if president Nana Addo happens to repeat similar mistakes, his sisters should come out and make same comments about him right. Or she will gather courage and momentum to repeat same comments for president Nana Addo. If no, then her own logical reasoning defiles the potency of her very insistency to stand by her words.
I believe in the NPP and president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. I shudder to think that, her attitude at the vetting committee is a potential weaponry that can instigate the opposition and its media outlets to negatively and unduly castigate Nana Addo's administration. She should understand that, with this sort of attitude, she is providing a loaded arm for the opposition parties to harm her government.
In all this, I will heap all blames on parliament. It is considered to be a toothless bulldog. It can only bark but cannot bite. Oftentimes, it appears partisan and divided, so, each shields its own. And, I do not foresee any deterrence or scapegoatism in their recommendations.
I wish recommendation for her designation in particular, would be withheld consensually by both sides of parliament until she apologises to parliament and the entire country.
Let's send a positive signal to the young ones if we truly want to model them.
I'm Just thinking aloud!!! Thnx!
Naa Gbewaah Sidiq's Folder.
