As fire purifies gold, separating the gangue (waste) from the precious mineral, so does crises a leader. Crises is the truest test of the depth of leadership of any man; short or tall, rich or poor. It was in crisis; July 10th, 1940, during the WWII; as Nazi bomber planes (Luftwaffe) sought to burn down Britain, that the leadership qualities of the 65-year-old Winston Churchill shone brightest. In-fact, Churchill’s charisma and tenacious character was what stood between Great Britain and defeat. Truly, it takes a Goliath to unearth a David.
The sterling leadership qualities of Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, shone brightest when the deadly Coronavirus threatened the very existence of mankind. From day one, the President demonstrated that he knew what to do. With his calm and steady hands resting on the Presidential lectern, conspicuously clad in a carefully weaved African print, Akufo-Addo rallied a trembling nation, with his intelligently crafted Sunday night COVID addresses, through the power of the internet, he inspired a dejected continent. He said, “Fellow Ghanaians, I assure you that, we know how to bring back the economy back to life. What we do not know, is how to bring people back to life”. Like Churchill, the Corona crises energized Akufo-Addo.
I dare say, if America had a man, the ilk of Akufo-Addo in the White House, they wouldn’t have had an urgent need for a vaccine for Covid19.
The people of the Western North region of Ghana, have communicated, through their chiefs, their utmost respect and deepest appreciation for the honest, wise, and courageous leadership exhibited by President Akufo-Addo during these perilous COVID times. On Saturday, 26th September, 2020 in Bibiani of the Bibiani- Anhwiaso-Bekwai constituency, Nana Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, paramount chief of the Anhwiaso traditional area, whiles addressing the President, said “to us the chiefs and people of Bibiani-Anhweaso-Bekwai, the December elections is a thank you vote. We shall vote to thank you for your sterling leadership traits”.
And so, they cheered him up from Akontombra to Bodi, from Bechema Nkwanta to Dadieso, from Juaboso to Enchi, from Awaso to Anhwiaso to Bibiani, they chanted, FOUR MORE FOR NANA!!
In response, the President said, “I want you all to know that I am an honest man. I didn’t come to power to deceive or lie to you. Unlike some people, I will not cut sod for projects without first securing funding for it. You all bear witness to my handiworks. I did not come to power to experiment with the destinies of the Ghanaian people. I had and still have a plan. Please give me FOUR MORE YEARS TO DO MORE FOR YOU”. The charged gathering took the celebration a notch higher when the President introduced the parliamentary candidate for the Biabiani-Anhweaso-Bekwai constituency, Alfred Obeng.
As I walked away from the blurring speakers on the durbar grounds to answer a call from my Mother, I eavesdropped on a loose comment by a decent young man leaning against a moto bicycle, probably in the Okada business. He said of the President, “this old man is wise o, see, Kwabena Agyapong is seated behind him on the stage but President John Mahama has sidelined chairman Allotey Jacobs, how can we win? No wonder we are building mortuaries in the Zongos”.
By the grace of God, Ghana has steadied the tide. Our health systems have not been overrun by the Corona virus. We may not be out of the woods yet. Covid19 is still here with us but so is our “FELLOW GHANAINS”. He has warmed himself into the hearts and minds of the good people of the Western North region. The evidence on the ground bears me witness, that almost all the nine constituencies in the Western North region; Bodi, Juaboso, Suaman, Aowin, Sewhi Akontombra, Sewhi Wiawso, Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai have fallen to President Akufo-Addo, the Fellow Ghanaian.
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