Folks, I trust you are all doing good. I have resolved not to worry about the baseless criticisms some people are making about former President John Mahama anymore, do you know why? My reason is that no leader in this country has been spared of such acts of unfairness; not even the great Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah! This is unconscionable, and that is how shamefully notorious human nature can be. Anyway, should this be a surprise? Luke 6:26 of the Holy Bible has this to say: “Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you. . .” Thank God posterity has been the judge as to what any of these state-men achieved for their country. And I believe the same posterity is judging JDM.
This makes me wonder who an ideal leader is, and a research I made has shown that an ideal leader could be judged by 5 traits: 1. A person of integrity 2. A servant leader 3. The courage to make difficult changes 4. A thinker and a doer 5. Good communication skills.
Former President Mahama has them all. He is a gentleman of complete integrity; he has been fairly truthful and has accepted responsibility of issues where necessary without putting blame on the doorsteps of others.
Former President Mahama has a heart of a servant leader, his humility is matchless; one may loathe him, but one can never take away from him his virtue as a listening leader. He does not see leadership as an opportunity to exert power, but as an opportunity to induce positive change.
JDM is a champion of change, and has the courage to make difficult changes. He has made a powerful statement on change which stands out as one of the best quotes ever made on the continent of Africa.
"Ghana was created through change, a movement of the people in support of their collective vision. And now the time has come for us to move to the next level, and we must work together to be able to achieve this. Without sacrifice, effort and determination. . .there can be no progress."
"We are in the midst of change. And can often feel uncomfortable, especially as it pulls us away from the systems and practices with which we have become familiar, but are no longer serving our needs efficiently. Without change, Ghana cannot grow."
On the subject of Thinkers and Doers, an effective leader cannot be one or the other, but must be both. In the history of America for example, Herbert Hoover was a Thinker and Richard Nixon was a Doer. They were both failures as presidents. An example of a Thinker and a Doer is Franklin Roosevelt, he rethought America's economic landscape and laid the foundation for what is now called the Middle Class.
Former President Mahama toed the line of Roosevelt by thinking and doing. He laid a foundation for a better Ghana just as Roosevelt did for America. Some of his achievements within his first term as president will blow your mind. They are as follows:
Rehabilitation of Komenda Sugar Factory, construction of Elmina Fish Processing Factory, CIMAF Cement Factory, GIHOC Shoe factory in Kumasi, Takoradi Port Expansion, Tema Port Expansion, Tamale Teaching Hospital Rehabilitation and Expansion; Legon Teaching Hospital, NHIS Tamale Office, Upper West Regional Hospital, construction of over 100 Community Day SHS, Univ. of Health Allied Sciences, construction of numerous CHPS compounds, construction of many Health Centres, Onuador Health Mobile Vans, construction of many Polyclinics, Millennium City Schools in Accra, Tamale Airport Rehabilitation and Upgrading, Kumasi Airport Expansion, and started the construction of Ho Airport.
Others are: Nkrumah Circle Interchange, Aworshie Pokuase Road, Development Corridor, Takoradi Met. New Asphalt Roads, Yamoransa - Elubo Road Rehabilitation, Burma Camp Road, Giffard Roads, Teshie - Nungua Bush Road, Aflao Metro Mass Terminal, Mampong Water Supply Rehabilitation and Expansion, Wa Water Supply Expansion, Kibi 5- Town Water Treatment Plant, Akwapim Water Project, Teshie Desalination Water Plant, Kpong Water Works Expansion Project, Pungu Solar Energy Project, Atuabo Gas Plant, Atuabo Free Port, Electrification of 22 communities in Tamale South and Electrification of 54 Communities in Mampong.
The rest are: over 60% increase in producer price of cocoa, Takoradi Sea Defence Project, Jita Tokor Sea Defence Project, Cape Coast Sports Stadium Complex, NCA Tamale Offices, Kajetia Market Complex in Kumasi, Tamale Market Complex, Kotokuraba Market in Cape Coast, Military Hospital in Kumasi, Expansion of Ridge Hospital in Ashanti Region, Expansion of Police Hospital in Accra, Kumasi Roads and Drainage Expansion Project, Kumasi Rattray Park, work progressed on the 695km Eastern Corridor Roads, Fufulso-Sawla road was completed, 800-kilometre Fibre Optic ICT Backbone, Ten, Gye Nyame, and the Volta Basin oil blocks exploration projects, successful implementation of deregulation of petroleum products, the bringing on board a 225 MW power barge to help solve the energy crisis, just to mention a few.
The fifth and final trait of an ideal leader is one's communication skills. Franklin Roosevelt is considered one of the best American presidents partly because he was so good at communicating with the public. Of all the God-given gifts of former President Mahama, the one that is eminent is his ability to communicate, and even those who don't like him know and appreciate this.
Given the above facts, we don't need a rocket scientist to tell us that His Excellency former President John Dramani Mahama is the Brightest and Fairest of all. He is a tsar of our generation!
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Former President, John Dramani Mahama