By J. K Nabary, GNA
Winneba (C/R), June 04, GNA – The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has hosted the maiden edition of the Osahen Afenyo-Markin Annual Excellence Public Lecture on “selfless leadership and public service: building integrity, trust, and accountability,”
The lecture, held in Winneba, organised by the Effutu Local Council of Christian Churches in partnership with the Effutu Traditional Council and the Muslim Community and chaired by Neenyi Ghartey VII, the Effutu Oma Odefe (Paramount Chief)
It was well attended, and present were Effutu industry and development partners, academics, students, Chiefs and Queen Mothers, executives and members New Patriotic Party (NPP) in and outside Central Region, including Mr Henry Nana Boakye, National Youth Organiser of the party.
It was also to celebrate and honour Osahen Afenyo-Markin, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu who attained 48 years recently, for his leadership in Parliament, an astute lawyer and public servant whose journey continued to inspire many within and beyond Ghana.
The maiden lecture featured a keynote address by an eminent politician, Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah, a former MP for New Juaben in the Eastern Region, who has built a reputation as one of Ghana’s notable economic voice within Parliament and national discourses.
According to him, every generation was remembered not just by the wealth it accumulated or the positions it occupied, but by the quality of leadership it produced, adding that history taught that nations grew when leadership was anchored in integrity, sacrifice and accountability, but struggled when public service became disconnected from responsibility and moral values.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah said one of the greatest crises confronting democracies was not necessarily the absence of institutions, laws, or constitutions, but the erosion of public trust in leadership itself, saying across many societies today, citizens increasingly question whether leadership still represented service, public office still reflected sacrifices.
They also question whether those entrusted with authority genuinely placed the public interest above personal ambition.
He said, It was refreshing and timely at this critical moment of the democratic journey of the continent as a whole, that Effutu Traditional Council, together with the Christian and Muslim community as well as others had united to organise the public lecture.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah stated that leadership was not only about occupying office but about stewardship, ability to inspire confidence, unite people around a communal purpose and remain accountable when authority provided the opportunity.
“True leadership demands restraint in moments of power, courage in moments of difficulty, humility in moments of success, integrity in moments of temptation.
“Public service at its highest level requires men and women who understand that leadership is ultimately a responsibility owed to people, not a privilege to be enjoyed over people,” he added
He said such lectures must not be merely celebration of personalities but a moment of reflection on values, an opportunity to examine the type of leadership required to strengthen democratic governance, restore public confidence in institutions and inspire the next generation towards responsible citizenship.
He further noted that the Effutu State had long produced individuals who had contributed significantly to national growth through education, public service, business, culture and governance adding that the values of resilience, communal responsibility and service remained deeply embedded in the identity of the traditional area.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah pointed out that such lectures matter because societies progress not only through economic growth and infrastructure, but also through the cultivation of ethical leadership and responsible citizenship at a time when many young people across Africa were becoming increasingly disillusioned with political leadership and public institutions.
He noted that conversations about integrity, accountability and selfless service had become more necessary in these times.
“The future stability and progress of democracies will depend greatly on whether leadership can once again earn the trust of citizens through honesty, transparency, competence and service.
“Therefore this lecture challenges all of us, political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, professionals, academics and young people alike to reflect honestly on the kind of society we are building, and the values we are transmitting to future generations by using such occasions to step back and think about the values that hold our society together.”
He commended the organisers of the event for intentionally choosing a theme which spoke directly to one of the greatest challenges confronting modern governance to help build integrity, restore trust and strengthen accountability in leadership and public service.
He said the collaborations between traditional leadership, the Christian and Muslim communities and other religious bodies sent a powerful message that national development required unity of purpose.
“It is a moral obligation for leadership to protect the public, strengthen institutions, uphold justice, improve the lives of citizens, constantly remember that citizens do not expect speeches from them, but expect honesty, fairness and accountability, and genuinely understand their struggles and aspirations, since democracy cannot survive where citizens lose confidence in public service,” he said.
Every generation is remembered not just by the world it accumulated all the positions it occupied, but by the quality of leadership it produced
Osahen Afenyo-Markin in his response shared his personal experience in life and also expressed his sincere thanks to his mother for the support she gave him that had brought him that far, the leadership of UEW for hosting the event, the clergy, the dignitaries, Neenyi Ghartey, Dr Assibey- Yeboah his mentor in parliament, the organisers and all.
Later, some personalities were presented citations, while a cake was cut to celebrate Osahen Afenyo-Marlin’s birthday and to honour him for his visionary leadership that had raised the flag of Effutu Oma (9tate) higher.
Edited by Alice Tettey /Bennjamin Mensah