African Insights

Leading by example: A story of servant leadership in Action

By Tracy Hammond

The stereotype of what a politician is and does, particularly an African one, has been thoroughly blown out of the water by Ghana’s former president John Kufuor. His commitment to his people, Ghanaians particularly and Africans more generally, is and was clear in his many actions. The benefits of these long-term and strategic plans are becoming more and more evident as each day passes. He instituted a socio-economic vision that was encapsulated in the ‘Five Priority Areas Programme’: the pursuit of good governance, modernisation of agriculture for rural development, private sector participation, enhanced social services and vigorous infrastructural development. This transformation has resulted in the highest growth rate Ghana has experienced since independence.

Kufuor left the country with a national reserve of US$2bn when he left office, an incredible growth of the $230m left by the previous government. “Under his watch, respect for the rule of law and human rights was paramount. For all 8 years that he ruled, nobody was imprisoned for political reasons...Civil liberties were enhanced and the criminal libel law was repealed to give greater voice to journalists and all who live in the country” says former Deputy Minister of Information Frank Agyekum. Ghana was the first to accede to the African Peer Review mechanism and the standard set by Ghana is now the measurement for all other countries on the continent.

As Chairman of the African Union, Kufuor was a key player in helping to establish the Kenyan power sharing process which is now being emulated in Zimbabwe.Yet this is not where his commitment ends and the recent revelation of the remuneration package he received as President has left none in doubt that he saw his role as servant to the people. For the first 5 years of his term he earned a salary of only US$1000. Only after an international review did he receive an increase up to US$4600 per month. He never took up residence in the Presidential Palace nor claimed the ‘rent’ for use of his own home which he was entitled to. This is in particular contrast to the current political situation in the UK and is a model of behaviour all in the world, developed or developing, should take note of.