The President of the Western North Development Association (WENDA), Dr. Tony Tsina Addai, has called on leaders in the Western North Region to elevate their leadership approach and embrace transformative qualities that can drive development and improve the lives of the people.
Speaking at the NUSSA Leadership Empowerment Seminar on the theme โNurturing Future Leaders, Building a Brighter Tomorrow,โ Dr. Addai noted that the regionโs slow pace of development stems mainly from leadership shortcomings across both traditional and political fronts.
He noted that chiefs, politicians, and other community leaders are all drawn from the same society, which makes it imperative to address leadership challenges from the grassroots.
โOur problem is not about who becomes a chief or an MP; itโs about the kind of leadership values we have inherited. Itโs time to decode these problems and find lasting solutions,โ he stated.
According to Dr. Addai, four essential pillars form the foundation of effective leadership โ continuous learning, adaptability, effective communication, and empathy. He described these as the antidote to stagnation, poverty, and brain drain in the region.
Dr. Addai stressed the importance of lifelong learning as a vital tool for leadership growth. He likened it to regularly updating a mobile phoneโs software to remain relevant and functional.
โEven though I have a doctorate in Business Administration, I learn something new every day. Leaders who fail to upgrade themselves remain outdated, and that limits progress,โ he said, urging both current and aspiring leaders to read more, seek mentorship, and acquire new knowledge to stay informed and effective.
Highlighting adaptability as another critical leadership quality, Dr. Addai noted that flexibility and openness to change are vital in responding to modern challenges.
He cited the COVID-19 pandemic as an example where many institutions collapsed because they failed to adapt.
He also criticized the persistent habit of constructing houses close to major roads in the region, describing it as a sign of unprogressive thinking.
โOur leaders continue to repeat old mistakes instead of learning from the past. They need to think ahead and plan for the future,โ he said.
On communication, Dr. Addai urged leaders to engage their people regularly, listen to their concerns, and build trust through transparency.
โLeadership is not about issuing instructions. Itโs about dialogue โ communicating your goals clearly and listening to feedback. Sadly, many of our leaders in Western North donโt communicate their plans to the people they serve,โ he lamented.
Dr. Addai highlighted empathy as the final and perhaps most vital quality, arguing that true leaders must feel the pain of their people and act to alleviate it.
โOur leaders send their children to good schools, while others study under trees. They travel to better hospitals while local facilities remain unequipped. If they had empathy, they would fix these problems,โ he said.
He concluded by challenging both current and future leaders in the Western North Region to embrace these four pillars as a blueprint for effective leadership and sustainable development.
โIf we want to build a brighter tomorrow, then we must start now โ instilling continuous learning, adaptability, effective communication, and empathy in every individual. Without these, nothing will change,โ he concluded.
