THE adage that he who constructs the path may not realise where it has gone crooked and that it takes those who traverse it to point that out is full of meaning, especially for those who assume leadership roles at various levels of society.
A leader may set out with the best of intentions to secure the best of conditions for his or her people through the initiation of policies and programmes, but as human as he or she is, he or she may fall short in one or more ways.
To fall short of achieving all that one sets out to do or to have some things done contrary to what one espouses or believes in is only an eloquent testimony to the fallibility of man. After all, to err is human.
The most rational thing for leadership to do in the face of this human frailty is first to acknowledge this weakness, demonstrate a capability and willingness to listen to others who have the capacity to offer constructive suggestions or alternatives and adopt those suggestions to enrich the policies and programmes being undertaken.
It is on the strength of the above that we recognise as heart-warming and a mark of humility and moral strength the exhortation by President John Evans Atta Mills to religious leaders to endeavour to draw his attention to the weaknesses or lapses in his government.
The President, who was interacting with a cross-section of the clergy at the Peduase Lodge yesterday, also admonished them to give his government constructive suggestions that could serve as useful inputs into policies and programmes crafted by the government (see front page).
It is not a usual human disposition for individuals or groups to openly embrace criticism or remarks that are regarded as uncomplimentary, especially so as they seek to lower one’s esteem or popularity rating in the eyes of the good people in society.
More often than not, people savour or enjoy sweet, sweet words sung to or about them as praises, for these are naturally ego-boosting epithets.
It takes only a few people, especially in our part of the world, on account of a number of factors, including cultural and political, to willingly and genuinely accept well-meaning criticisms and more so take on board such suggestions in the formulation of policies and programmes for society.
We find this call by the President very appropriate and timely as society continues to grapple with an array of age-old vices, such as corruption, robbery, child abuse, moral decadence, etc.
For, is it not an indictment on us as a people that in spite of our professed fear of God, we still indulge in these vices in our homes, offices and even in the churches and other sacred places?
This makes it more imperative for not only the government and religious bodies but also other sections of society to join hands to keep these vices in check and also help improve the material conditions of the people.
We also urge all to join hands to jettison the politics of lies and concoctions, vilification and insults, as well the shameful politics of mobilising people to rally behind individuals who have infringed the law, thereby preventing or seeking to influence the law away from the normal course it otherwise should have taken.
The politicisation of crime is a stab in the back of justice, national development and progress and we all have a duty to work to end that negative development.
We also wish to urge the President to expand such interactions to include other groupings and the masses who are all important stakeholders in our national development effort.
We believe that with such interactions on a regular basis, the President can gain more useful information and support to enrich the content of government policies and programmes to contribute to the realisation of the “Better Ghana” agenda Ghanaians have endorsed.
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