Ghana, the gateway to Africa is again set to elect a President and members of Parliament to lead the nation to its promise land. In Africa we are hailed as the first Sub-Saharan Africa country to gain independence, the beacon of hope and black star of the Continent.
We have been created with impressive democratic credentials, having held seven successful general elections under the fourth Republican Constitution (1992 Constitution). We were once the world No. 1 producer of Cocoa, built key infrastructure like Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Adomi Bridge, Akosombo Dam, Kwame Nkrumah Circle interchange, Komeda Sugar Factory, and Kumasi Shoe factory.
Our culture, beliefs and values define our identity and orientation as a people. Ghana has been blessed with many great leaders like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, John Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufour, John Mahama, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo and the recent Osei-Kyei Mensa Bonsu and Haruna Iddrisu.
Many of these leaders have contributed immensely to the development of Ghana. The success stories of this great nation are worth celebrating and consolidating the gains to build a sustainable Ghana.
These achievements were all achieved by Ghanaians with local resources and not from the money bags of our so-called international partners who have robbed us of national identity and mineral resources.
What happened to Ghana?
I ask, what happened to our focus, undying sacrifice and commitment to building a better Ghana. Did we forget how far we have come as a nation, our political and economic orientation? The struggles we went through to become a true Republican nation.
My proposal would be for us to revisit the many national development plans and policies we drafted and are currently lying idle. Let’s reorient ourselves on the basic tenets of nation building, restructure our educational system, eschew corruption, expand road networks from farmlands to our regional capitals to help boost agriculture, give our farmers that necessary state resources to make Ghana the bread basket of Africa, adhere to basic economic principles to grow the economy, build more hospitals to save the lives of our dying rural folks and create more employable opportunities for our youth.
The current generation expects its leaders not to further destroy Ghana by politicizing every good thing we have achieved as a people but to inspire hope in our potentials to develop our beloved republic.
As we hitch close to election 2020, my plea would be for the young and old, the elites in our society, market women, business executives, students, civil society groups, state agencies and the clergy is to not look on as we have done in the last 63 years of democratic Ghana but to speak out to stop the ills happening in the country.
About the Author:
Emmanuel Owusu is Policy Analyst with considerable knowledge and expertise in local economic development, policy formulation and strategic management.
He is currently the Executive Director of the Movement for Responsible and Accountable Governance (MoRAG), a civil society organization.
Contact the Author on 0248110208, [email protected]
