By Prof. G. Etse Sikanku
What was expected to be his lowest moment in politics ended up becoming a shining example. Mitt Romney once said something about elections and their outcome: “Politics can break your heart”. It was supposed to be a heart-rending moment for Dr Bawumia, but he turned it into a moment of triumph—not just for himself but for his nation, the continent and democracy. Dr Bawumia shocked many in the country and across the world—including some in his own team—when he delivered what has been widely considered one of the earliest concession speeches in Ghanaian, African and global democracy.
In doing so he did not only unofficially signal a denouement to the fierce and hotly contested election between him and his opponent but curtailed what many saw as a potentially volatile situation in the aftermath of the ballot casting process. Considering the all too known history of post-election violence in Africa and across the world, this singular act by Dr Bawumia was roundly commended.
The United Nations called Dr Bawumia’s actions “a significant example for African leaders to prioritise peace over actions that create tension” (UN Secretary General’s special Representative Leonardo Santos Simão). The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana, H.E Charles Abani visited Dr Bawumia to express his appreciation for his early concession and the concomitant contributions to peace and democracy in Ghana. The Diplomatic community in Ghana lauded the former Vice President for his statesmanship and respect for democratic values following his early concession. In a letter signed by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the diplomats stated that Dr Bawumia’s unwavering commitment to the values of democracy, especially through your honourable concession in the recent elections, stands as a testament to your statesmanship and love for this nation. In moments of political transition, it is the strength of character and respect for the democratic process that define a leader.”
President John Mahama acknowledged the significance of Dr Bawumia’s actions stating that it contributed to “fostering peace during a crucial moment for the country.” NDC top official and Director of Communications Mr. Sammy Gyamfi called it “an exceptional display of statesmanship”. So, what lessons can we learn from his concession and what significance does it hold?
It’s okay not to win
“More wins” is the common mantra these days. Of course, as humans, generally, winning is the desired outcome for most endeavours but the deeper lesson from Dr Bawumia’s actions shows that sometimes you can win by losing. In as much as most of us hope for wins, the lesson here is that failure is part of life. In fact, there will be nothing like victory if there was no failure. And so what Bawumia demonstrates for all of us, especially the youth is that sometimes, it is okay to fail. It builds resilience, fortitude and emotional intelligence for even greater wins at a mandated time. Without certain failures, there wouldn’t be victory at all. Yet the fear of failure has crippled many, destroyed lives and prematurely curtailed destinies. By openly, readily and speeding accepting the electoral outcome, Dr Bawumia demonstrated his true character: humble, peaceable conciliatory, mature and wise. He has shown that there is no shame in failure and that out of the shrubs and ashes of defeat, beauty can emerge.
Democratic Advancement
Everywhere you turned, nationally and internationally, one of the biggest conversations was about how Dr Bawumia’s early concession entrenched and enhanced democracy in Africa. With the albatross of post-election conflict ravaging certain nations and the sword of Damocles hovering heavily in the air, Dr Bawumia’s gestures pre-empted any unforeseen calamities and calmed the atmosphere. Still, the unprecedented cacophony and violence that surrounded the declaration of parliamentary results brought many to the realization of how ominous things may have turned. And perhaps dented Ghana’s democratic image as a haven of peace and stability.
The smooth presidential transition accelerated by a swift and unequivocal concession was therefore roundly applauded. The Nigerian media and blogosphere for instance, couldn’t have enough of it. All over the Internet especially on social media, content after content, video after video, text after text, rushed to commend Ghana for flying the flag of Africa high, often times comparing it to their own situation. This was undoubtedly a Ghanaian moment. However it was also a genuine celebration of democracy, national pride and continental glory.
Ethical Leadership
It is often said that that truest test of a man’s character is what he does when he’s down. Martin Luther King once said: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” According to Mihelic, Lipicnik, Metka Tekavcic (2010), “Ethical leaders think about long-term consequences, drawbacks and benefits of the decisions they make in the organization.
They are humble, concerned for the greater good, strive for fairness, take responsibility and show respect for each individual.” These are all lessons in leadership we can learn from. They are qualities that we can infer from the action Dr Bawumia took; thinking about the greater good of the nation, shunning long drawn litigation, showing humility and respect for the electoral process. In doing this, he has won the respect of many across the globe including those who didn’t necessarily vote for him. He has established himself as a leader with integrity.
Data, technology and the future
One of the major themes that dominated the conversation after Dr Bawumia’s concession was the speed and precision with which it was done, underpinned by data, technology and projections. It shows that to succeed in the contemporary era, the ability to curate, mine and make projections based on accurate data is the way to go. The days of haphazard, erratic, wishy washy, propagandists and spurious assertions are over. It demonstrates that democracy does not happen in a vacuum but rather is essentialized through concrete, substantive data visualisations, technological input and intelligent analytics. This is the future of campaigns, policy making and democracy.
Conclusion
Dr Bawumia may have lost the presidency but what he has gained because of his swift, decisive and full-throated concession is priceless. He put the national interest above personal ambition and in doing so, demonstrated a powerful model of exemplary, principled, humane, and courageous leadership that will inspire generations to come.
