It is quite troubling that after nearly seventy years of independence, Ghana, unfortunately, continues to lag behind the rest of the pack in terms of the socio-economic advancement.
My dear reader, isn’t it pathetic that we have abundant natural resources, and yet we have to heavily rely on loans for survival?
I do not want to be seen as a pathetic doomsayer, far from it. But so long as we continue to elect the dreadful economic managers (like those who can ‘fecklessly’ lose a staggering GH22billion on gold trading) to take charge of affairs, I’m afraid, Ghana may not see any meaningful development in our lifetime.
Indeed, it is quite unfortunate that in the name of gold trading, some people can recklessly and facilely throw away a massive GH22billion, which could have completed the all-important Accra to Kumasi road, a number of Agenda 111 hospitals would have benefited, and some unemployed Nurses and Teachers would have found themselves in the public service.
After ridiculously throwing away such a huge amount, we then turn around and go for meagre loans to finance our projects. How bizarre?
Regrettably, year after year, the Auditor General’s report would uncover some damning scandals such as the gargantuan GH22billion Gold Purchase Programme losses. Nevertheless, the successive governments more often than not would turn a blind eye to the unpardonable scandals, and the suspects would get away with murder.
How can we make any meaningful advancement as a nation when the incompetent, careless, selfish, greedy, and corrupt politicians and other public servants continue to waste our resources as if there is no tomorrow?
Ghana, as a matter of fact, needs patriotic and selfless men and women with the unparalleled wisdom of the Biblical Solomon and the enviable intelligence of the tiny ant to successfully steer the nation in the right direction.
Ghana, in fact, is lagging behind mainly due to the persistent lack of care by the successive administrations since regaining the independence from the British on 6th March 1957.
Unfortunately, the unpatriotic and selfish attitudes of some men and women we often put in responsible positions have cost this nation dearly.
I have always held a contrary view to those who contend somewhat spuriously that it is hackneyed and unconscionable for anyone to suggest that although we started life with the likes of South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia, we are happy to secure loans and other assistance from them.
Let’s face it, my dear reader, our leaders, regrettably, more often than not, measure their accomplishments according to the amount of loans they manage to secure from the same countries we started life with. How pathetic?
I’m afraid, so long as we continue to elect leaders that are myopic, visionless, and only count their achievements with how much loan they are able to secure, and the number of schools they are able to remove from “under trees”, Ghana may sink deeper and deeper into the mire.
Indeed, so long as we have leaders that have no foresight, corrupt, greedy and incompetent; I dare state that Ghana may never advance meaningfully in our lifetime.
Take my word for it, my dear reader, this is not an absolute endorsement of former President Mahama’s infamous greedy pigs aspersions, far from it, but I would dare stress that in similitude to George Orwell’s animal farm story, Ghana’s independence has largely benefited, and continues to benefit only a few-the greedy and corrupt politicians and other public servants.
It is an illustrative case of “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
I dare state that so long as the elites among the ‘four legs animals’ are refusing to think outside the box, displaying existential selfishness, lacking patriotism and solicitude, and revoltingly looking down upon the ‘four legs downtrodden, Ghana may never develop meaningfully in our lifetime.
May God bless our homeland Ghana!
K. Badu, UK.
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