At a time when many lament the corrosion of values and the growing perception that leadership in our country has become synonymous with greed, a solitary act of courage has reminded us that not all who lead are for sale.
Nana Quasie Essiem IV, Chief of Whindo in the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipality in the Western Region, has done what few in her position have dared to do: she has said no to the powerful and the wealthy who seek to destroy our land for gold.
Despite being offered GH¢2 million and other lavish promises, Nana Essiem refused to mortgage the future of her people for temporary gain. Instead, she stood firm, ordered the seizure of heavy-duty mining equipment, and handed it over to the police (See Daily Graphic, Wednesday, October 8, front page). It was an act not only of defiance but also of moral clarity — a declaration that integrity still has a place in leadership.
In commending this gallant chief, the Daily Graphic underscores a simple but powerful truth: Ghana’s fight against illegal mining or galamsey is not merely a technical or security matter.
It is, above all, a test of moral courage and leadership. Laws, policies and military operations may be important, but without leaders who possess conviction and integrity, these efforts will forever be undermined.
For too long, many traditional leaders have watched as rivers turned brown, forests vanished, and farmlands became pits of death.
The destruction is visible, the devastation undeniable — yet the silence from many stools and skins has been deafening.
How many chiefs are unaware that illegal mining is going on in their jurisdictions?
How many have chosen to look away because they, too, are benefiting from the proceeds of this national tragedy?
The notion that chiefs in mining areas are powerless because mining concessions are granted from Accra is a flawed argument.
Nana Essiem's actions demonstrate that this excuse is nothing more than a justification for complacency and moral surrender.
By taking a stand to defend her land, Nana Essiem shows that she will not be bound by limitations imposed by others.
Instead, she is guided by a deep sense of responsibility to protect the interests of her people and the land she holds in trust for future generations.
Her conviction and actions serve as a powerful example of the agency and authority that chiefs can wield in defence of their communities.
Indeed, while the Daily Graphic does not wish to sound feminist, it is important to acknowledge that what many men have failed to do, this female chief has boldly done.
In a space traditionally dominated by men, her example is a loud statement that leadership is not defined by gender but by character.
She has shown that courage, honesty and service to the people are not masculine virtues; they are the hallmarks of genuine leadership.
Her action also calls into question the moral fibre of many other traditional and political leaders.
It is not enough to make pronouncements at durbars or to sign communiqués expressing concern about galamsey.
Leadership must be visible, proactive and decisive.
To those chiefs who have chosen to stay silent, we ask: If the chief of Whindo, with limited resources and no personal security detail, can stand up to well-financed illegal miners, what excuse remains for you?
Illegal mining is not merely an environmental issue; it is an existential threat. It threatens our rivers and forests, our agriculture and livelihoods, and ultimately our national survival.
Every acre of land destroyed, every stream polluted, every child lured from the classroom to dig for gold is a scar on the conscience of our nation.
The fight against galamsey is a fight for our very identity as a people — for the right to bequeath to our children a country that is still liveable.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, calls on the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs to rise to the occasion.
Let them take a firm collective stand against the menace, name and shame those within their ranks who compromise their stools, and celebrate those who uphold the sanctity of the land.
We urge the government to support such exemplary leaders with protection and recognition, for they are our true partners in nation-building.
Nana Quasie Essiem IV has not only rejected a bribe; she has reaffirmed the meaning of leadership in its purest sense — service above self.
Her action should not be an isolated story that trends for a few days and fades away.
It should become a rallying point, a symbol of the Ghana we want to build — a Ghana where leadership is not bought, where the environment is sacred, and where the future of our children is worth more than gold.
The Daily Graphic salutes Nana Quasie Essiem IV.
In defending her community, she has defended us all.
May her example awaken the conscience of other leaders who still sit in silence as our lands and rivers die.
For if one chief can say no, so can others — and together, they can help save the soul of this nation.
