Leadership - Gen. Colin Powell

During a lecture on “Leadership” just before they graduated as doctors in December 2021, medical students of Family Health University Medical School asked lots of questions on the entry requirements for doctors into the Military.

Probably, the PowerPoint presentation of the beautiful picture of a handsome uniformed Gen. Colin Powell, whom many of the students had never heard of, whetted their appetite for the Military.

Earlier, the news of Gen. Powell’s death at age 84 on October 18, 2021, shocked many and evoked lots of sympathies, though naturally some found fault with him.

Descriptions of him included “a legendary soldier, inspiring, patriot, warrior, trail-blazer” and many more.

A retired US Army General described him as a disciplined soldier, who in 2003 obeyed the UNSC Resolution not to overrun Baghdad after the Iraqi Army had been destroyed.

However, what surprised me most was my “Manager” sadly saying in Twi, “Colin Powell wuoyi de3, 3y3 me ya!” Meaning “I am saddened by Colin Powell’s death!”

I was surprised, because I had never heard her talk about Gen. Powell. So, who was he?

History

Born Colin Luther Powell in 1937 to immigrant Jamaican parents in the Bronx, New York, he defied all odds of race to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Geology and earn a Regular Officers Training Course (ROTC) commission as a Second-Lieutenant in 1958.

He was injured fighting during the Vietnam War.

From such humble beginnings, he rose to become a four-star General and America’s first black Chairman of the Joint-Chiefs-of-Staff (Chief of the Defence Staff.)

In 2001, President George Bush Junior appointed the retired Gen. Powell, the Secretary of State, again the first black.

Regret

In his book “My American Journey,” Gen. Powell mentioned an event which he described as a blot on his life. It was his speech at the UN Security Council in 2003 to convince Americans that Sadam Hussain had weapons of mass destruction, hence the justification for the invasion of Iraq.

Indeed, he produced a vial of powder as evidence of Iraq’s biological warfare preparations. He would later state that what he told the world was based on faulty intelligence.

Notwithstanding this incident, both Republicans to which he belonged, and Democrats, saw him as a great leader, and wooed him to be their presidential candidate in 2008.

Having declined both, he endorsed and supported Obama to win the elections which brought him to power in 2009.

Discipline

In spite of the goodwill and respect he commanded after leaving politics, he was described as “firing his ammunition sparingly.”

An occasion he did so was after the January 6, 2021 invasion of the Capitol in Washington, encouraged by the defeated Donald Trump to forcefully overturn the results.

Gen. Powell asked Donald Trump to resign for instigating insurrection and bringing the high office of the presidency into disrepute. Indeed, he resigned from the Republican party to show his disgust with events.

Humility

Despite that single blot, Gen. Powell was widely recognised as a courageous leader of integrity with a keen sense of humour, who had the welfare of his subordinates as his priority.

The fact that both Republicans and Democrats wooed him to be their presidential candidate attests to the respect he commanded.

When he took a decision in 2003 on Iraq, based on faulty intelligence, he accepted it and humanly agonised over it.

Leaders who arrogantly believe they are always right and, therefore, never compromise no matter how wrong they are, must learn from Gen. Powell’s humility.

Unfortunately, some of our leaders or misleaders, according to Professor PLO Lumumba, seem to think that arrogance is an important ingredient in their positions of power.

Otherwise, how can a person in authority say, they do not owe the people who elected them any explanation for decisions they take?

Teamwork

In acknowledging that life is teamwork, Usain Bolt never claimed that he ran the fastest leg in Jamaica’s 110x4 yards relay at any world/Olympic Games.

Similarly, Gen. Powell led without ever claiming credit for his leadership.

The current accusations in Ghana of who did or did not do what, reduces leadership to mediocrity and constitutes bad leadership.

Though a Republican, Powell voted for Democrats Obama and Biden. Eventually he quit the Republican party to demonstrate his loyalty to the state.

Our leaders must learn from Gen. Powell to be loyal to Ghana and not to their parties!

Indeed, Ghana has our own positive example! President Kufour started the N1 Highway in 2002. At the time of its completion in 2012, President Mills was the President.

In one of the greatest displays of political maturity, President Mills invited President Kufour for a joint inauguration of the project. Humility pays!

Leadership, lead! Fellow Ghanaians, wake!

The writer is Former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya & Council Chairman, Family Health University College, Accra. E-mail: dkfrimpong@yahoo.com