When the right captain is chosen, even a stormy sea becomes a path.

The overwhelming support for Nashiru reflects a collective belief that strong and principled leadership can steer the GGSSA toward stability, growth, and renewed purpose. At a time when many institutions struggle to uphold accountability, this union has demonstrated what responsible democratic choice looks like.

It is encouraging to see a union like the Ghana Gas Senior Staff Association (GGSSA) practice a level of democracy that merits national praise in a nation where many institutions still struggle with accountability, transparency, and the fundamentals of participatory governance. The peaceful, competitive, and credible electoral process that resulted in Nashiru Kanton Luriwie as Chairman is a model that many public and private institutions can learn from.

Democracy thrives where people freely choose their leaders. And in this case, the overwhelming support given to Nashiru is not just a vote of confidence; it is a reflection of hope. Hope that leadership can be honest. Hope that institutions can work. Hope that Ghana Gas, and ultimately Ghana, can secure its rightful place as a beacon of progress.

But hope alone is not enough. It must be matched with performance.

Before the election, Nashiru laid before the General Assembly what he called The People’s Project, a social contract grounded in vision, responsibility, and measurable action. His promises were not vague political slogans; they were structured, strategic, and ambitious. He pledged to build a strong, vibrant, and independent union guided by leadership, trust, and integrity. He promised to reaffirm the identity and purpose of the GGSSA, champion national policy to protect the livelihoods of senior staff, advocate for the Gas Act and the GPP Train 2 project, and operationalise a credible investment plan for the association.

He also committed to strengthening member welfare, restoring transportation services, ensuring proper working tools for staff, revising canteen services, and improving sports and recreation. On governance, he promised strict adherence to the GGSSA constitution, annual audits, transparent communication, and a more robust database for administrative efficiency. And perhaps most importantly, he vowed to deliver tangible results finalize the CBA, institute fair training opportunities, fix normalization and placement challenges, ensure a merit-based reward system, and conclude the land and housing projects long overdue.

These are not simple promises. They are commitments that, if truly executed, would redefine the union and elevate Ghana Gas as an institution.

Now that the people have spoken loudly and decisively, Nashiru must lead with clarity, courage, and humility. Winning an election is easy compared to the responsibility of fulfilling the expectations that victory creates. With the kind of support he received, the members clearly saw something in him: competence, sincerity, vision, or perhaps a rare combination of all three. He must now rise to meet that expectation.

But leadership is never a one-man job. The newly elected executives, Vice Chairman Doron Asante Antwi, General Secretary Maxwell Debrah, Deputy General Secretary Filafa Musah, and Treasurer Abraham Acquah Mensah must stand firmly by him. Their loyalty should not be blind loyalty; it should be loyalty to the institution, to accountability, and to the collective mandate they have been entrusted with. If Nashiru succeeds, they succeed. If the executives work as a unified force, the entire GGSSA benefits.

And when the GGSSA succeeds, Ghana Gas succeeds.

When Ghana Gas succeeds, Ghana succeeds.

And when Ghana succeeds, every citizen directly or indirectly benefits.

This is why leadership at every level matters. Every decision taken by those in authority goes far beyond their offices. Institutions only function when leaders act with integrity and when members hold their leaders accountable. Ghana’s dream of progress and development cannot materialize unless its institutions, unions, agencies, ministries, and corporate bodies function effectively and independently.

My hope, and indeed the hope of every concerned citizen, is to see Ghana develop institutions that work,  institutions where democracy is not staged but lived, where elections are not rituals but reflections of genuine choice, and where leaders are not self-serving but nation-serving.

Nashiru has been given a mandate. The people have entrusted him with their confidence. History will judge him not by his words, but by his results.

May he lead well. And may his team stand with him not behind him, not in front of him, but with him  for the good of Ghana Gas and the good of Ghana.