Going back to Ghana after so long was eye-opening and somewhat difficult. A lot had changed since I was there last, it was pretty confusing. I had this image about my homeland: the weather, people, parties, jobs and even roads. Little did I know that change had to factor in as well?
So many new businesses had sprung up…..obviously! Party spots keep multiplying by the minute and the popular faces in town….. Let's leave that unsaid. It is sad that the condition of the roads, and the attitude of the government and populace towards issues concerning the average man, remains the same.
March 6th, 2011 marked 54 years of independence for Ghana, and as celebrations went on, I kept pondering: "What has Ghana achieved in its 54 years as an independent republic?" Certain questions, which the citizens should bother the state about…… Certain essential things that political parties promise, that never see the light of day….
The dream of attaining independence, and finally achieved, with Dr. Kwame Nkrumah at the helm, looks like an inconsequential one. The dream of the people of that era, and of our founding leaders seems to be irrelevant to the people in this era.
All most people seem to do for independence is party, party and party. How many folks remember Dr. Nkrumah and what he really stood for? What about his vision? All that was lost over a 50 year period with the coups, political dictators, power-hungry and money-hungry leaders we have had.
Looking back at the last few governments the Ghanaian people have had, 54 more years from now, we might still be in the same place (Hopefully not!). It is utterly shameful that we are comfortable with the state of our nation.
The state in which governments gamble with the education of its high school students: this rigmarole between 3 and 4 years of study, poor electricity and water supply, petty squabbles through media outlets, corrupt government and civil service officials, power and money hungry top shots, corrupt police and judicial service officials…… the list goes on and on.
We drive on poorly constructed roads that have 9000 potholes along a 500 meter stretch (okay, so that was an exaggeration, but you get the point). Going from Adenta and working at Kokomlemle, one needs to leave home at about 6am or a little earlier. Having to stay in traffic for 3 hours on roads that are designated as highways? Where they do that at? We, as a people, and a country as a whole, indulge in inferior and cheap products and services instead of retaining the best, for the best results. A highway ceases to be one if it has slow vehicular traffic for hours at a time.
The situation of the roads isn't the country's only area of failure. Gross financial loss caused by high ranking government officials to the state. Allotting government property to line their pockets and leaving the coffers of the states empty.
I keep trying to think back to when this practice started and it is shameful to admit that, ever since the colonial masters handed power over to the indigenous people, we have been nothing but corrupt with it. Every time projects are started, constructions undertaken, we can't seem to do without the help of external companies from the Orientals or the West: Americas and whatnots.
Last year, on my way to work every morning, I passed by real estate that used to belong to the government and now, private property. How and when the transition came about, it isn't transparent enough for all to see. Politics seems to have a new name: "coffer looting". Different people, from different political parties, keep wrestling and dragging each other's names through the mud, to gain the people's favor. If ever we paid attention to the political campaigns in other countries outside Africa, nothing we do here is done there. Their campaigns and dealings are relatively transparent.
The political leaders fulfill campaign promises to a larger extent because they know the people will put them to task. We seem relaxed in Ghana, when our leaders fall short on their promises. We make excuses for them. After all, "this is Ghana" or even much worse, "this is Africa". Let us take a look at our educational system, utility services or even transport system for example.
No one seems to be satisfied with anything and yet, no one seems to do anything about it. Everyone expects "someone else" to solve issues. We need to learn, as a people. We need to be responsible for a lot of things we shrug off. And we need to hold our leaders accountable. It is really not that hard if we really claim to want change.
I have said a little bit…….sown a seed in your minds. Now fly away with it and do the little you can to change the homeland. We all MUST! Home is where the heart is. Home is HOME!
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