đ Beyond the Cliff
I. The Fall of the Flock
In 2005, a quiet village in eastern Turkey witnessed a tragedy so surreal it bordered on metaphor. One sheepâjust oneâwalked off a cliff. Within moments, 1,500 others followed. The first 450 died on impact. The rest survived only because they landed on the pile of those who had already fallen.
It wasnât just livestock. It was a story of what happens when minds turn passive, when vision is outsourced, and when blind faith becomes collective fate.
II. The Ghanaian Parallel
In our own civic pasture, Ghanaians often graze politically without questioning the terrain. A few well-worn slogans, the pull of loyalty, or the charisma of the crowd can drive national decisions. Too often, we vote not for vision but for survivalâhoping that if enough fall, we might land softly too.
This allegory becomes even more poignant when we reflect on the President Ghana never hadâthose visionary figures with integrity, wisdom, or cultural grounding who were never elected, never endorsed, or never supported because they didn’t play to the herdâs rhythm.
III. A Leadership That Sees
Great leadership isn’t about who can stir a frenzy; itâs about who sees the cliff before we reach it. Leaders should be navigators, not entertainers. They must guide us away from echo chambers and into principled progress.
The Adinkra symbol âDwennimmenââthe ramâs hornsâreminds us that strength must be balanced with humility. The sheep had strength in numbers. What they lacked was discernment.
IV. A Legacy We Must Choose
If Ghana is to rise on wingsânot pile onto ruinsâwe must:
đ§ Choose leaders with clarity, not just charisma. đȘ Reflect before we follow. Ask why, where, and at what cost. đïž Elevate values over popularityâethics over expedience. đ± Remember those who almost ledâthe President we never hadâand honor them by choosing wisely now.
V. Final Words
Let us not be a nation of accidental survivors. Let us be a people who chart paths of intention, vision, and courage. The cliff is only fatal if we refuse to look ahead.
Retired Senior Citizen
Teshie-Nungua
[email protected]