In the heart of the Talensi District, a silent crisis is unfolding one that reflects not a lack of capacity, but a lack of leadership urgency. In 2024, the District Director of Health made a heartfelt appeal to the District Assembly to repair the district’s only ambulance which had been down for months. This single vehicle, vital for transporting patients in critical conditions, has been grounded for months. The response from the then District Chief Executive ( Mr. Thomas Wuni) was disappointing, there was no budget allocation to support the repair. Instead, the assembly was advised to seek funds from mining companies operating in the area, a move that yielded no results. What is even more troubling is that the assembly members, who are fully aware of this life-threatening challenge, have failed to ensure that the ambulance repair is captured as a priority item in the 2025 district budget.
The inability to act on such a critical matter exposes a deeper issue, a leadership vacuum where responsibility should have thrived. Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. True leadership is not defined by position or title but by the ability to make a difference when it matters most. It is about taking initiative, not waiting for perfect conditions or directives from above. In times like these, leadership calls for empathy, courage, and swift action. It requires decision-makers to see beyond bureaucratic procedures and focus on the human lives at stake.
Every assembly member and stakeholder must imagine a district where access to healthcare is not determined by whether an ambulance can move. Vision without action is merely a dream, and the people of Talensi cannot afford to keep dreaming while preventable deaths occur. The first rule of leadership is responsibility. Leaders do not make excuses; they make things happen. The continued neglect of this issue in the 2025 planning process is not only an oversight but a moral failure that undermines public trust in local governance.
This is the time for all stakeholders political leaders, traditional authorities, mining companies, civil society organizations, and community groups to come together with one purpose: to restore the district’s ambulance and safeguard the lives of the people. Leadership is not about power or control; it is about impact. People follow those who demonstrate care, competence, and consistency in service. The people of Talensi deserve leaders who act, not those who explain away inaction.
Great leadership builds bridges, not barriers. The District Assembly must work hand in hand with the private sector, health authorities, and development partners to find innovative solutions. Whether through a transparent fundraising drive, a community support initiative, or a public-private partnership, the focus should be on results, not rhetoric. The restoration of the ambulance must not be delayed for another year-it must become the district’s first priority.
The issue at hand is more than a mechanical failure; it is a test of moral responsibility and governance integrity. Leadership is proven in service, not in speeches or promises. If the district truly values the well-being of its people, then the time to act is now. Let the Talensi District Assembly and all stakeholders demonstrate that leaders become great not because of their power, but because of their ability to fix problems. Empower the health system. Empower the community. Fix the ambulance because leadership is not waiting for someone else to act; it is being the first to move.
Source: Nelson Bonkena (Citizen of Talensi), with picture credit to, ‘Focus On Talensi’.
