Leadership: Target service to humanity
One of these days, we are going to wake up to the announcement of no breathing for two months because a most favourite partner of a leader has passed away, and until the final funeral rites are performed, all within the jurisdiction of the leader should hold their breath.
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One should not dismiss my statement as nonsensical, because I refer to Ghana, where most people, including many leaders, outdo one another copying, with absolute disregard for human safety, dignity and convenience.
At one time in a certain jurisdiction, two school days were sacrificed for mourning. In the same timeframe, shops were closed, and movement was heavily curtailed.
The people of Sunyani are mourning. From July 25 to August 24, the dress code for the township is either black or red. On Friday, July 28, there was no school and shops were closed. One could not buy food on the street.
News from Sunyani indicated that the announcement was already causing friction. A commercial driver was reportedly pulled from his vehicle by palace guards or servants and beaten up for not wearing the decreed colours.
Another report was that one guard slapped a person, and the person heftily returned the slap and fled to escape manhandling from palace group solidarity.
One wonders whether or not the reports have reached the authority which made the decree, and if investigations had been conducted to determine the veracity or falsehood of the reports. It is imperative that steps are taken to avert gross human rights abuses.
One must not also forget the potential eruption of violence, should everyone who might get slapped opt for self-defence.
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The decision to close school for mourning raises an alarm among concerned educationists. Since COVID-19 reared its head, the school term has been getting shorter and shorter.
The decision to return the commencement of the school year to September has necessitated further shortening of the school term in 2023.
The fact that the closure occurred in the mourning jurisdiction only placed the learners at a further disadvantage.
Additionally, the economic implications involved in closing shops in times of mourning could be truly distressing.
A teeming cross-section of the masses live from hand to mouth, purely on daily earnings. Whereas the day’s closure might have meant nothing to a cross-section of residents, another might just have gone to bed empty due to that decree.
Of course, the cumulative revenue loss to shop owners and government cannot be glossed over.
It is possible that some residents may not have had clothing in either colour. Such would be compelled to buy some items of clothing in the decreed colours, albeit unbudgeted for, to avoid being beaten by guards.
These are difficult times indeed, and certain directives just heighten degrees of inconvenience, economic hardship and suffering.
When one hears such reports, one cannot help but make a comparison of leadership styles in Ghana with others elsewhere.
One gets proof of a certain degree of leadership loyalty from socio-economic provisions made for communities.
No leadership on this earth is perfect. On the contrary, every leadership has monumental marring regime landmarks. Yet, some rise above their errors to serve community to remarkable appreciable levels.
During summer when the temperate zones experience extreme heatwaves, one sees fountains spraying cold water across city centres and towns.
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Residents, young as well as old, walk through the cooling sprayers to get relief from the heat. Community pools are also available; parents take their children there for cooling splashes.
Homeowners who do not have air conditioners spend time in the malls, which maintain cool temperatures. Malls have ample seating arrangements for residents. Such social provisions reflect direct services for taxpayers’ money.
Such pragmatic measures mark the beauty of genuine leadership, highlighting its focus on service to humanity.
Leadership initiatives that ease community suffering and enhance dignity elevate leaders before society. Demonstrated kindness and thoughtful consideration for societal welfare earn for leaders, community gratitude, leadership shortcomings notwithstanding.
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Hence, one is really baffled when decrees are passed to heap suffering and gross indignities on residents. Policies and decrees should be initiated to advance people’s welfare and protect their rights, not infringe on them.
Funeral decrees are proving to be basic human rights violations and that ought to be checked.
Traditional chieftaincy areas fall under parliamentary constituencies, so members of parliament get to know about chieftaincy decrees.
One would think that parliamentarians would promptly initiate dialogue with chieftains to address such violations and collaborate with such for pragmatic ways to honour the dead without heaping indignities on the living.
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In the 21st Century, Information Technology comes to the aid of society through simulation and virtual reality. Prince Edward Island, Eastern Canada, has a designed tunnel.
Upon entering, tourists are taken through the history of Canada, from the moment the first Frenchman stepped on Newfoundland through the horrendous colonising experience to 21st Century Canada.
Culture and traditional ways ought to serve people and not the other way round.
The writer is a Senior Lecturer, Language and Communication Skills, Takoradi Technical University, Takoradi.