Step Forward, Step Back
"Agoo!" the leader called with warmth and confidence.
"Ameee!" came the joyful response, rising in one harmonious voice that filled the room with excitement and unity.
In that simple yet powerful exchange lay the heartbeat of our Ghanaian heritage—a call for attention, a sign of respect, and an invitation to journey together.
From that moment, strangers became companions, and companions became family. Our cohort blossomed into a community bound by purpose, kindness, and a shared commitment to learning and growing together.
Not long ago, I sat with a traditional elder who quietly shared a story that has remained etched in my heart.
He said, "A good mother prepares her daughter in secret and allows her to prove herself in public."
As I reflected on those words, I realized they were not only about motherhood—they were about leadership.
For us at the Witness Tree Institute of Ghana, that "good mother" has been Tete Cobblah and Elizabeth Updike Cobblah. They have invested in people long before asking them to lead.
At first, I thought the elder was simply speaking about raising children. Later, I understood that he was describing one of the greatest responsibilities of a leader: preparation.
This year, Uncle T, as we affectionately call Mr. Tete Cobblah, could not join the 2026 cohort because of health challenges. Yet instead of holding tightly to leadership or believing that no one else could carry the responsibility, he and his wife Aunty Liz and the WTIG board chose a different path. Uncle T, as the director, entrusted others with leadership and empowered them to guide the affairs of the Institute.
That is the mark of true leadership.
An Akan proverb says, "The elder who teaches the child to climb a tree does not fear when the child reaches the top." Confidence in others is born from the investment we make in them.
Uncle T never looked down on those he selected to lead this year. He gave them hope, direction, encouragement, and the practical preparation they needed to succeed. He understood that leadership is not about creating followers who depend on you forever rather it's about raising leaders who can stand even when you are absent. Naturally, one or two of the new leaders ( Babara, Denise and Dela) were nervous. Some feared making mistakes. Others questioned whether they were capable enough. But fear is often the first companion of responsibility.
Uncle T, the founder and director of the Witness Tree Institute, reminded them of something profound; that making mistakes does not mean you are incompetent. Mistakes are the chisels that shape character, wisdom, and excellence. Every accomplished leader was once a beginner who dared to learn.
There is another story that perfectly illustrates this truth. Imagine an engineering lecturer who refuses to board an aircraft because it was designed and built by his own students. Such a teacher has already confessed that he failed to teach his students well. Maybe he lacked truth in his own knowledge or words. If a teacher cannot trust the people he has trained, then his confidence in his own work is questionable.
This is exactly what I have experienced at the Witness Tree Institute- Learning here goes beyond books and classrooms. We are trusted with responsibilities, encouraged to lead, corrected with love, and allowed to grow through experience.
That is not the Witness Tree way.
Here, learning extends far beyond books and classrooms. We are trusted with responsibility, encouraged to lead, corrected with love, and given the freedom to grow through experience.
The WTIG Sankofa Cohort of 2026 is already becoming a family. It's so beautiful to see every member embracing leadership in their own unique ways, looking out for one another, leading discussions with confidence, keeping our learning environment clean, and generously sharing snacks. We are living the Akan proverb, "Nsa baako nkura adesoa (One hand cannot lift a heavy load).” We are making strong connections and when hearts unite, every burden becomes lighter and every success becomes sweeter.
The success of true leadership is measured by the confidence the leader instils in his people to make them effectively continue his or her journey or dream. As a leader of this year’s Witness Tree Institute cohort, and the beneficiary of such grace, this journey has shaped me into the person I am becoming.
And perhaps, that is the truest definition of leadership.
Medaase.
Kwasi Ntim Agyei is a 2026 co-leader and the Cultual Coordinator of the WTIG. He is a musician, and teaches creative arts at the Kpohe Basic school, Kpohe, Ghana