Dr. Patricia Rodney, wife of the late Guyanese scholar, social and political activist, Walter Rodney, has counseled Ghanaians on what to look out for when selecting leaders.
The CEO of Partners in Health, Education and Development, a public health consultancy organization based in the United States says people should choose leaders who can relate to them and know their daily needs.
According to her, no one is born a leader, but rather, people who possess the vision to change their environment with a sense of integrity are those that qualify to lead.
She explains a servant leader inquests from his people what their needs are, rather than telling them what they need.
Bemoaning the attitude of politicians who only visit their constituents during elections, the public health professional noted that one cannot serve any group of people unless he knows what pertains to their daily lives.
She has been having a conversation with TV3’s Alfred Ocansey during her visit to Ghana.
“There is a saying ‘leaders are born’ I don’t believe leaders are born. I think leaders are people who have vision, who see the society from what the society [is], who perhaps come from the people, who have integrity, who want to change the status quo of the society. So it’s not people who are powerful, have the money to win elections, not people who talk the talk but walk the walk.
“If I have never been to a village how can I represent a village? What do I know about a village? I choose to come to the village when it’s time for elections. I listen to the voice of the people. I go and ask them because as a leader you’re a servant. As a servant leader you should be asking them what it is they need, you shouldn’t be telling them what they need,” she advised.
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