In the heart of the North East region lies Gbintiri, home to the area's largest market. Yet, the roads leading to this vital economic hub are deplorable. This glaring contradiction, a thriving center of commerce crippled by terrible infrastructure highlights a failure of leadership that has become all too common.

While the local authorities remain inactive, a remarkable story is unfolding. An ordinary citizen, without any official title, has taken the initiative to address the crisis. This individual, Akuka, mobilized graders and tipper trucks to deliver gravel and begin repairing the disastrous roads himself.

His action poses a challenging question: why should it fall to a private citizen to perform a basic public service? Our district assemblies have bulldozers and tippers parked and idle. What are they there for, if not for exactly this purpose? Must we wait for a figure like John Mahama to descend from Accra to tell us what needs to be done?

The situation in Gbintiri is not isolated. Similar neglect plagues other areas like Bunkpurugu and Chereponi. We call upon the leadership in these jurisdictions to take immediate action. They must not wait for more private citizens like Akuka to step in and, by their very virtue, shame the institutions that have failed their duty.

Akuka is not a man of excessive resources; he is a man of excessive care for his community. His intuitive and selfless act is a lesson in true leadership—a quality that seems to be in short supply within our official offices.

We do not praise him merely for fixing a road; we praise him for demonstrating the initiative and public spirit that our elected and appointed leaders have sorely lacked. For his courage and compassion, we say: God bless Akuka, and may He make you great and strong. May your example awaken the conscience of our region.