Businessman and philanthropist Alhaji Seidu Agongo has urged leaders and public servants to focus on their legacy of impact rather than the power and privileges that come with holding office.
In a thought-provoking opinion article titled “In The End, It’s The Impact That Matters, Not The Position”, Agongo, who is also Chairman of Class Media Group, reflected on two recent national events – the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight government appointees and military officers, and the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office.
According to him, the sudden deaths of the helicopter crash victims highlight how titles and possessions quickly become irrelevant in the face of mortality. What endures, he stressed, is the contribution individuals made during their lifetime.
“The men and women who died in that helicopter crash were not just officials. They were fathers, mothers, friends, mentors. But when life was cut short, their titles are now gone. Their possessions are irrelevant. What remains is the impact they made or failed to make while they lived,” Agongo stated.
Turning to the dismissal of Justice Torkornoo – the first Chief Justice in Ghana’s Fourth Republic to be removed through constitutional provision, Agongo said the development was a stark reminder of the fragility of power.
“Her case serves as a stark reminder that even the highest judicial office in the land is subject to accountability and constitutional processes and that today you can command power over all the justice administration process and tomorrow become an ordinary citizen,” he observed.
He cautioned those in authority against arrogance, antagonism, and weaponising their offices for personal gain. Instead, he urged humility, fairness, and service to others.
“Do not use your office to antagonise. Do not weaponise your authority to settle scores. Do not forget that the very people you look down on today may be the ones history will celebrate tomorrow,” Agongo wrote.
Reflecting on the victims’ mission before the fatal crash, he noted they were traveling to address illegal mining, an effort that underscored how leadership should be about service to society rather than self-interest.
“The helicopter crash victims were traveling to address illegal mining – a noble cause that demonstrates how public service should focus on societal benefit rather than personal aggrandizement,” he added.
Agongo concluded his piece with a call to all leaders, government appointees, and public servants to use their positions responsibly.
“Because when the curtain falls – and it will – only your impact will remain. Ghana needs leaders who understand that true greatness lies not in the position you hold, but in the lives you touch,” he emphasized.
Source: www.KumasiMail.Com/JosephZiem
