LEADERSHIP: WHY AFRICAN LEADERS LOSE FOCUS

                                                                                                                                                                                          

Some Leaders of Africa

Africa is really endowed with numerous natural resources but yet this ‘rich’ continent is mendicant to the western countries. The challenges presenting themselves to the African Continent are uncountable. These challenges could particularly be ascribe to the mode of leadership practice by most African leaders.

In Africa, leaders or governments are expected by their followers or subjects to provide adequate security and safety, open political participation, sustainable economic prospects and large measure of human development. But what do these subjects and followers get in return? These prospects turn to be the otherwise. Are leaders of Africa really conscious of leadership?

In these ongoing disclosures the media and the general public of the various Africa countries incessantly characterize these leaders as bad and self-centered leaders while some even question their competence and credentials. Do leaders who lose their focus incompetent leaders? Leaders who lose their focus are not necessarily incompetent leaders. But they somewhat lose their way and social bearings, often yielding to mischief in their tracks. I believe only few people go into leadership roles to cheat or perpetrate evil, nevertheless we all have the capacity for actions and inactions we deeply regret unless we stay anchored.

SELF-CONTEMPLATION: A TRACK TO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Leadership is not meant for faint-hearted and indecisive people but rather action driven and decisive people. So, before any African takes on a leadership role they should ask themselves, “Why do I want to lead?” and “What’s the intention of my leadership?” These are very easy questions to ask oneself, but finding the real answers to these questions may take period of years. If the honest answers are power, prestige and financial gains, leaders are at risk of relying on external satisfaction for fulfillment. On the contrary, there is nothing wrong with desiring these ostentatious properties as long as they combined with a deeper desire to serve something greater than oneself.

 Leaders whose aim is the quest for authority over others unlimited wealth or the fame that comes with success have a propensity to look to others to gain gratification, and often appear self-centered and egotistical. They start to believe their own press (praise singing media). Besides, most African leaders of institutions, they eventually see in their mind's eye that the institutions cannot thrive without them. That’s one grave weakness of our African leaders!

THE GLOOMY SIDE OF LEADERSHIP

Many African leaders get to the top by imposing their will on others, even destroying people standing in their way. When they get to the top they possibly will be suspicious that others are trying to knock them off their footstall. Sometimes they develop an imposter complex demeanour, caused by deep insecurities that they aren’t good enough and they may be unmasked. To prove they aren’t imposters, they drive so hard for perfection that they are incapable of realizing their failures. When confronted by their subjects and followers; they convince themselves and others that the problems are neither their fault nor their responsibility. Ridiculously, they look for ‘whipping boys’ to blame for their problems. Using their authority, personal appeal and communication skills they compel people to accept these distortions causing the entire organisation to lose touch with reality.

At this phase of the leadership, leaders are very vulnerable to committing big mistakes, such as breaching the law or putting their organizations’ existence at risk. Their distortions convince them they are doing nothing wrong, or they rationalize that their deviation are acceptable to accomplish a greater good.

VALUES-CENTERED LEADERSHIP

Leading is a very difficult task. There is no way any leader can avoid the unremitting challenges of being responsible for people, organisations, consequences and uncertainties in the environment of leadership. Leaders who move up have greater freedom to control their destinies but they also experience increased pressure from the outside. Leaders can avoid their pitfalls by devoting themselves to personal development that will help shape their potentials and ability. This requires reframing their leadership from not falling as head to tail just like the people they lead. This process requires deep thought and introspection because many people get into leadership roles in response to their ego needs. It enables them to transition from seeking external satisfaction by making meaningful contributions through their leadership.

The renowned Leadership expert, speaker, coach, and author Dr John C Maxwell said in his book the ‘21 irrefutable laws of leadership’ that; “Leaders require seasoning to be effective. If you continually invest in your leadership development, the inevitable is growth over time, the relationship between growth and leadership: It’s the capacity to develop and improve one’s skills that distinguishes leaders from their followers.”

                                                                          The writer is a freelance journalist

                                                        Tel: +233247265478

                                                 Email: adjeteyemmanuel@gmail.com                                                                                                                                                                                                     

THE TEENAGERS: HOW CAN YOU HELP?

                     

                                       By: Adjetey Emmanuel

There is a psychological law of reciprocity that says, “If you make me feel good

about myself, I will find a way to make you feel good about yourself.” In other words, people will always look for ways to reciprocate your kindnesses towards them.

This is what Teen Age Build (TAB)-Ghana, Non-Profit Organisation stands for. TAB’s mission is to shape and direct the focus, goal and ability of teenagers through consistent and continual reliable activities that will help them abreast the possibility of living a truly fulfilled life.

The greatest priority of TAB is to assist our teenagers realize their dreams, potentials, aspirations and ambitions.

There’s no way one could climb the ladder of success with his/her hands in the pocket. Your guess is as good as mine! Hence, TAB exists to performing that vital role by making sure that our teenagers’ climb the ladder of success without putting their hands in their pocket. TAB believes our teenagers can only reach the apex of the ladder of success if they are well and carefully monitored when they are doing the climbing thus when pursuing success.

Besides, most of our teenagers have been brainwashed by some societal mishaps to belittle themselves. But, TAB, views this in a different angle. The Teen Age Build organisation which believes in the dreams of our teenagers’ is of the view that, with faith in our teenagers brings with it, the reward of success. As NGO which also exists to strengthen and motivate the teenagers psychologically and physically keeps on trumpeting this to our teenagers “do not belittle yourself in any way for within you lie untapped potentials, untapped duties and unusual energy.” TAB strongly believes that the key for our teenagers to unlock these virtues lie in believing in themselves.

It is also an unequivocal fact that there is nobody in Ghana today who has lost sight over the trend of our teenagers and issues affecting them. For many, the least said about it the better.

Our BECE and WASSCE results leave much to be desired.  Figures from WAEC show that the pass rate of students who sat for the BECE has been on a constant downward decline since 2009. The 2011 results of the BECE students have been the worst in 13 years since 1998 as the base year with 46.93% of students achieving a pass rate and thus being eligible for placement into SHS. So one may ask; ‘where are the unqualified-and-not-placed students?’ Indeed their future is doomed to a bleak future of uncertainty with dangerous national security ramification for the Country in the near future.

The situation isn’t different at the second cycle institutions. Many complete and are only left into the mercy of countless NOV/DEC. re-sits. At times, the concomitance of this is the skyrocketed social vices in our country.

Teenage pregnancy has deprived many teenage girls and their wards of quality education and many turn to be dependents on their family and the nation at large. It is not surprising that as of 2011, the age dependency ratio (% of the working-age population) was 73.23%. According to the World Bank index, the value for this indicator has fluctuated between 95.38 in 1976 and 73.23 in 2011. Indeed teenagers’ inability to continue with their education added up to the mess we have found ourselves in as a nation.

Societal values have been swept under the carpet by the teens with great impunity. We see this reflecting in their dressings, talks and other ways. Immorality is eating deep into the social fabrics of the teenagers increasing the rate of STDs with no thought of any prolong impact on them. Homosexuality is at a faster rate extending its tentacles to teenagers with the Senior High schools being the hub. September 21, 2013 headline story; on myjoyonline.com “12 years old prostitute arrested in Kumasi, charges GHC 5.00 per round”, this and many such diabolic acts of our teenagers must awake our consciousness to the issue of child prostitution among teenagers. Homosexuality and lesbianism now seems to be part of the extra curriculum activities of our schools. Are these schools now nurturing gays and lesbians in schools?  What a shame!

As a nation we cannot continue to be good at identifying our problems without providing any solutions to these problems. Many of these things are happening to our teenagers because of misplaced priorities. Many do not know what they want from life. Most have no master plan for their lives and therefore anywhere the road/path leads to they are ready to go through it. Most have not got any destination in mind and as such every place becomes one. And this is the situation majorities of our teenagers found themselves in. Life without any goal/aim is like a bird with broken wings that can’t fly.

I was cut to the heart when a pupil of JHS 3 said; “Sir, I don’t know” as an answer to what she will like to be in the future. This was a teenage girl who came to the sister to choose a course for her to complete her candidate registration form. It is so obvious that for this girl, all that matters to her is to get to the secondary school and not what she is going to do there. And when such a person gets to the SHS you can imagine what she will do. This is lack of vision and clear goal in life.

It is high time we guided our teenagers to set achievable goals and inspire them to such dream realization. With this and godly value inculcated in them, I strongly believe a headway can be made. These are things TAB is out there to achieve in our teenagers.

Our mission is to shape and direct the focus, goal and ability of teenagers through consistent and continual reliable activities that will help them abreast the possibility of living a true fulfilled life.

But, TAB cannot fully help shape and also direct the focus, goal and potentials of our teenagers through its consistent and continual reliable activities without the public support. Hence, TAB deems it fit to request support from the general public.

www.teenagebuild.webs.com

Facebook: Teen Age Build (TAB)-Ghana

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Hohoe

Email:adjeteyemmanuel@gmail.com

Tel: +233247265478

A Postcard To Teachers

.......  For it’s often said that, one who deserves praise is not denied of it.

Teachers are central part of every society. They add values to the lives of our children, laying the foundation for the expansion of knowledge. Teachers have, undoubtedly, contributed to the development of any nation said to have progressed or progressing.

In every profession, from doctors to architects, one is indebted to the positive impact of teachers for helping him/her succeed. This is why it is sad to see the attacks, some of which appear orchestrated, against our teachers.

Teachers merit a better commendation than what we usually see. The lives of most prominent men and women across the globe were academically shaped by teachers. They have as well helped many people to achieve their desired dreams whilst others are still realizing their potentials through their effort.

The profession, in my view, is one of the most difficult professions I have ever known. But yet teachers are not accorded the necessary recognition and respect in their field of work. These groups of people (teachers) have the most forbearance spirit. Honestly speaking, they have the ‘special’ hearts that accommodate any kind of nonsense from some notorious and stubborn students and at times from some fierce parents.

You may ask why I am commending teachers. Well, they ought to be commended for their great job. Imagine the world without teachers. How would the world be like? The question is can you live in such a world?

My few months experience in the classroom, as a National Service Person in S.D.A Junior High School, Hohoe, has really given me the insight in some of the challenges our teachers are facing in their work. In fact, the teaching profession is not an easy task as some people thought. Taking the pain to teach and again explaining a subject matter to students’ level of understanding is indeed hard. If you ask me who are the most disciplined in their profession, I will not hesitate to tell you teachers. This is because, most teachers, I have known since my preschool up–to-date are all disciplinarian. They have instilled in some of us to be discipline as well.

I’m seizing this opportunity to express my innermost gratitude to all teachers. Especially to Mr. Bindoph Christoph Azumah, he’s one of the teachers I can never forget in my life. He was my father and teacher so to speak. He taught me English during my Senior High School days. He is one of the disciplinarian and hardworking teachers I have ever known in my life.

If most students would be very sincere to themselves they can emphatically attest to the fact that they realized their ambitions through their industrious teachers for which I am not an exemption.

It’s high time we acknowledged our teachers. They have really done a great job. And they are still doing many marvelous jobs. I can never finish showing my gratefulness to them.

Teachers deserve special gratitude and recognition. Their impact in nation building warms the heart of a chunk of people. Hence, a big ‘’thank you’’ to them.

Long live the teaching profession, long live teachers!

                                        By: Adjetey Emmanuel

                     The writer is a Freelance Journalist based in Hohoe

                             Email: adjeteyemmanuel@gmail.com

                                          Tel: 0247265478/0236678077

TOGBE BANSAH HONOUREDAS SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE EWES

Ngoryifia Togbe Cephas Kosi Bansah, popularly known as King Bansah from the Gbi Traditional Area has been bestowed as the traditional, spiritual and honourable king of the Ewes.

The honour was installed on him by the Ewe Fiaga Togbe Agokoli IV of Notsie in the Togolese Republic during the weeklong celebration of the annual Agbogboza of the Ewes.

At that memorable ceremonial occasion of the chiefs at Notsie to discern the contributions of King Bansah towards the transformation of the lives of the Ewes, Ewe Fiaga Agokoli IV presented a citation to Togbe Bansah for his enormous contributions in making the lives of his people better.

Togbe Agokoli IV who was extremely excited by the many development projects undertaken by Togbe Bansah called on others to imitateKing Bansah in ensuring continuous transformation in the Ewe land.

Ewe Fiaga Togbe Agokoli IV also asked all the Ewe speaking nations to come and celebrate the Agbogboza with them in the subsequent years.

Togbe Agokoli was very grateful to Togbe Bansah and asked others to come to the support of the Notsie.

Togbe Bansah who was accompanied by Queen mother Dr. Susanne Dattenberg-Doyle cut sod finance the building of a statue in memory of Ewe Fiaga Togbe Agokoli IV.

Chiefs from Ghana and Benin were also present to grace the weeklong celebration.

King Bansah who is a resident in Germany from 1970 to date went to the Notsie in Togo with the wife Queen mother Gabriele Bansah, Fredolin Kwasi Bansah, the Hohoe Municipal Deputy NADMO Coordinator, Togbe Osei III Dufia of Gbi-Godenu and some other friends from Germany to witness the celebration of their annual Agbogboza celebration.

Credit:SpyGhana.com.

Togbe Bansah (middle) with other distinguished Ewe Chiefs

Hohoe SDA JHS In Need

By Adjetey Emmanuel 

I have observed with keen interest how our public schools are being treated and how pupils who find themselves in these schools are abandoned to their fate. Our public school system has been left unattended to and nobody seems to care about their problems.

In Ghana, some public schools especially those in our remote communities have been neglected for long. For my time being in Hohoe SDA JHS for my national service, it appears the government has deserted the above-mentioned school for some time now. The said school is not in any bad shape regarding its structure but it lacks a lot in relation to learning materials. In fact, the school lacks learning materials.

The SDA JHS is a single stream basic school located in Low-Cost, Hohoe, with a population not more than One Hundred and Forty five (145) students. But I still don't understand why a school with such a population should lack the requisite learning materials. To my surprise, I thought otherwise when I first got to the school; its real name had been replaced with "HIPC BENEFIT 2004". It's obvious the building was built during ex-president Kufour's administration but the question is, is our country still a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC)? Or is the name "HIPC BENEFIT" adversely having an impact on the school?

Now back to the problems identified, the school has no library. Ever since I noticed this, I have been wondering how these students are going to read on their own or even borrow some books to their various homes. How can these pupils read effectively to acquire the basic vocabularies that will help their English speaking proficiencies? As a matter of fact, the absence of the library has really posed a big challenge to these poor students. It always saddens my heart when I see these students loitering around during their free periods. Owing to this problem, many of these students find it very difficult to express themselves in English before the teachers or even in front of their own colleagues. It's always a 'grammatical warfare' in the class whenever a question is asked. Why should this happen to these poor pupils? We all know, Rome wasn’t built in a day but the builders started with a strong foundation.

Besides, the school also lacks an Information and Computer Technology (I.C.T) lab. In this our modern times and age, one must be well equipped with information technology before one can fit well into the system. These students from ‘weak’ background cannot fully learn the computer on their own they need to be guided but yet the computers which will facilitate their learning have not been provided. How are they going to acquire the practical training in the I.C.T? I have been in the above-named school for almost two months now and anytime it is I.C.T period, the teacher has to illustrate everything on the chalkboard.

Worst of it all, the school cannot even benefit from a common chalk. The teachers are always complaining there are no chalks for them to write with. It's totally true. As a matter of fact, I’m going through the same situation here. And surprisingly, anytime the headmaster goes to the district education office he comes back to say there are no chalks there. Is this not serious? This situation leaves these teachers with no other option than to buy the chalks using their own pocket monies. For how long would this situation continue? The teachers cannot continue to be buying the chalks forever something ought to be done as early as possible.

Furthermore, the staff common room of this school is also not spacious enough. As a result of this, most of the teachers prefer sitting on the veranda than to sit in the small room which even lacks a ceiling or standing fan. Others also prefer sitting under trees and that's where I prefer sitting too. Besides, we are always not comfortable when the rain threatens to fall but the truth is we don't have any choice. The headmaster is always left alone in that small cubicle to rather use there as his office since he has no office of his own. Is this what teachers have to go through after they have finished teaching?

Governments that take on power do not pay much attention to these marginalised schools. But honestly speaking, some public schools need much attention than others particularly those in our relegated communities. Most administrators of these public schools care less about the future well-being of these schools. You and I know that, our public schools admit majority of people especially the less privileged ones in our societies and if well managed, many poor people will be able to have a reasonable level of education thereby leading to an increase in the literacy rate in the country. Quality education is a right and not a privilege and must therefore be accessible to everyone irrespective of ethnicity, gender, religion and social class.

                   By: Adjetey Emmanuel

                 The writer is a Freelance Journalist

                      Email: adjeteyemmanuel@gmail.com

                       Tel: 0247265478/0236678077

NURSING: DISPASSIONATE PROFESSION IN GHANA

               

For it is often said, the smallest truth is still bigger than a biggest lies. From my personal observations, Ghana is one country in the sub-Saharan Africa, where most teeming youth rush into the nursing profession all in the name of rapid employment opportunity and remunerations. But it is obvious most of these youth in fact don’t have the passion for this reputable career.

I do believe my readers will agree with me that this revered profession; nursing is a profession to serve humanity. The profession is a very complicated one and so, much care must be taken by nurses since human lives “partially” depend on them. Again, I believe this career is not made for faint-hearted people but rather people with much boldness and courage. But now what do we see? People who cannot withstand little pressure at work and also people who cannot tolerate others I mean their own patients. Obviously, most of these youth think the nursing vocation is just a dummy-run hence they’re eventually rushing into it without thinking twice about the intricacies involved. Are we to blame them for their choices?

Besides, most of these teeming youth are going into this profession merely for the monthly allowances paid to them which they commonly called “Allower”. I can emphatically say that most of these nurses have no love or passion for the career. But today, we see them in their numbers nicely dressed-up in their neatly sleek uniforms. Honestly, this write-up is not written to deface the nursing profession but only to share my opinion on what I have noticed in recent times just as the maxim goes “one bad habit often spoils a dozen of good ones”.

Moreover, some of these young nurses mostly don’t exercise patience when attending to or about to attend to a patient. I do ask myself do these nurses’ easily forget or they just don’t understand the pledge they swear which states in stanza three of their code of ethics which reads. “I promise to respect at all times the dignity of the patient in my charge”. I believe some duties of the nurses includes; taking care of whole patient- his mind and body, to provide health education and other health services to the individual, family, society and the nation as a whole for the prevention of deadly diseases and to promote good health. But the question here is do these young nurses in our various hospitals normally have time for all these? Again, I have also noticed that, some of these nurses instead of them doing what are expected from them or attending to a patient they rather spend time on their cell phones talking, surfing the internet or ‘whatsapping’.

Besides, I have witnessed a lot of insolence from some of these young nurses to their patients in most hospitals and clinics. But, to my surprise most of these patients normally keep quiet. Shouting at a patient because that patient needs your service this shows how rude you can be. And as a matter of fact, most of these inpatients and out-patients being mostly maltreated could be their parents for Christ sake. I will not be surprise if some of these nurses travel to the Western countries with these unethical working attitudes. Lest I forget, no wonder recently a Ghanaian nurse in London was accused of a violent act. And she was later charged with violent by abusing a dementia patient. Was she thinking London was Ghana? As the saying goes “Charity begins at home”. Apparently, this is how ill-mannered and disrespectful most of these nurses behave in Ghana hence they travel with these inimical attitudes.

Perhaps, people can attest to the fact that the present behavioural pattern of these young nurses is nothing to write home about as compared to the then behaviours of our older nurses’ in the country. The bottom-line here is that most of the older nurses went into the profession with much dedication and passion so they worked around the clock to save human lives. Because they believe hardworking pays unlike the young nurses’ who only think about their monthly allowance and salaries. Eventually, they mostly end-up venting their anger on innocent patients.

As the saying goes “Good names are better than riches”. I therefore entreat the Ministry of Health (MoH) to make sure nurses’ perform their earthly duties with much dedication and devotion and also adhere to their ethical codes. In conclusion, nurses must be patient-friendly because if these nurses cannot be friendly to these patients then who else can they be friendly to in their field of work?

                                   By: Adjetey Emmanuel

                                  The writer is a Freelance Journalist

                                  Email: adjeteyemmanuel@gmail.com

                                   Tel: 0247265478.

NATIONAL ISSUE: OUR HEALTH OUR WEALTH?

By: Adjetey Emmanuel

For it is often said that health is wealth. But the question is how many Ghanaians consider what they usually consume as medicine?

I believe you will agree with me that most Ghanaians are ignorant of some of the drugs sold to them at the pharmacy shops. It is a fact since more than half of the country’s population is uneducated. They are eventually brainwashed to purchase unregistered and fake medicines to consume.  Besides, what baffles me most is that majority of the pharmacy shops still have and sell some expired drugs in the country. This reminds me in 2011 when an expired medicine, Quinaquin, was sold to a two year old girl which made this innocent young girl paralyzed. Where are we going as a nation? If some unscrupulous people can have the gut to sell an expired drugs to their fellow human being wickedly to ruined their lives.

Besides, we live in a country full of self-seeking and sadist people who always want the best for only themselves. Hence, I will not be surprised to know if some pharmacy shops still sell some banned drugs like the chloroquine. The medicine in question thus chloroquine was banned in 2004 due to the medicine losing its efficacy and potency because it was said that the parasite that causes malaria developed resistance to the chloroquine. Fortunately, the chloroquine was then replaced with Artesunate Amodiaquine which was then affectionately called AA. But, because we still live with depraved people who only enjoy inflicting others to pain, some quack pharmacists in the country still went on selling this medicine. With this analogy, I’m of the conviction that other banned drugs would still be in some chemist shops.

A recent study has also revealed that the most commonly faked drugs which are imported into the country include antibiotics, antimalarial drugs, anti-diabetics and aphrodisiacs. Some drugs are also counterfeited by illegal local producers. The trade in fake or substandard drugs is booming in the country because those involved are earning huge profits as a result of weak regulatory measures by the authorities, whereas our law enforcement is slack.

Again, another delicate side of the issue is the recent high patronage of aphrodisiac drugs. I will not astonish to know if there are chemist shops selling only these aphrodisiac drugs. From my observation, I have noticed that in recent times the demand for the drug is very high and mostly by the youth. Now, the questions are, have these drugs been examined? And registered by the Food and Drugs Board?  Also are they safety to be consumed and could their efficacy be guaranteed? And even though, if these aphrodisiac medicines efficacy could be guaranteed on the other side of the coin these same drugs also have their negative effect to the health of the consumers. So, I deem it wise for the Ghana Health Service to collaborate with the Food and Drugs Board to make sure they caution the public against their excessive use of these medicines or the drugs especially the youth.

Moreover, as a nation we are also at risk owing to the recent influx of counterfeit drugs being imported into the country. Besides, on the account of, the tenets of free trade system some international criminal groups take advantage of this system to importing fake and substandard drugs into the country. Despite the fact that, these fake drugs could be moved into the country but we all know it is the sole duty of our National Securities and the Food and Drugs Board to make sure any medicines imported into the country are not fake or substandard. Because, if they failed to execute their duties the ordinary citizens in the country would greatly be at risk by using these drugs.

Furthermore, I have also noticed that, most people prefer buying medicines in the open markets and in buses. It is high time for people to know that some medicines sold to them in the open places could be fake, expired or unregistered by the Food and Drugs Board and they could also be injurious to their health. For that reason, it is the duty of the government to protect her citizens. In addition, other designated bodies like the Pharmacy Council of Ghana, Food and Drugs Board and the Ghana Health Service must continue to caution the general public to be wary of counterfeit and expired drugs being sold especially in the open markets and in buses.

As the saying goes “Don’t try to cure a headache it’s better to cure the thing that causes it.” I therefore entreat the Ministry of Health (MoH) to join forces with other subordinated bodies to promote the awareness, inform and also to educate the public about the influx of counterfeit drugs in the country. Besides, the Food and Drugs Board must also stand firm to making sure that any company or any individual producing any kind of medicine that so-called medicine must be thoroughly scrutinized before that product comes out to the market.

Also, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) must also make sure that pharmacies in the country must be managed by competent and well trained pharmacists. But what do we normally see? People who are not pharmacists are practicing pharmacy in most pharmacy shops in the country.

My fellow citizens be very conscious and extra vigilant with any medicine you might one day buy at any pharmacy shop. Never hesitate to examine the medicine or even interrogate the pharmacist about the medicine because your health is your wealth.

Credit: Adjetey Emmanuel        Email: adjeteyemmanuel@gmail.com, the writer is a freelance journalist based in Tema. To read more of my articles visit   www.newsinventory.blogspot.com    Tel: 0247265478