Abubakari Abdul Karim is the writer of this script
As we mark over six decades of self-governance, our beloved nation, Ghana, stands at the precipice of introspection. Despite being blessed with an abundance of natural resources, human capital, renewable energy, information resources, cultural resources, etc., we have failed to harness these gifts to create a truly independent and prosperous nation. We keep being slaves to the IMF, World Bank, foreign aid, etc.
The litany of challenges we face is a damning indictment of our failure. Many leaders have come and gone, yet we remain mired in the quagmire of underdevelopment. Our inability to manage, manufacture, and produce finished products that address our nation’s problems is a travesty. We have failed to electrify our rural and urban settlements, leaving many in the dark ages. All we do best is chant failed slogans.
The neglect of our rich cultural heritage and tourist attractions is a crying shame. Our failure to dualize inter-regional highways has turned our roads into death traps, claiming countless lives in avoidable accidents. The lack of proper land use planning and infrastructure development has led to haphazard construction, leaving many in conjunction. When there are fire outbreaks, it consumes lives and many properties, notably in Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.
We have failed to provide clean drinking water for all, instead polluting our water bodies and environment with impunity. Our policies have exacerbated inequality, leaving the poor to suffer while the rich continue to accumulate wealth. The lack of true justice has led to the middle class and elite being celebrated for their mediocrity, while ordinary citizens are left to suffer for minor infractions.
The elite’s theft, election-related violence, murder cases, and conflicts are exploited for political gain, leaving the nation in a state of perpetual turmoil. Our healthcare system is in shambles, and our education system fails to provide the necessary governance structures to support innovation and creativity.
We stand at a crossroads, and our nation needs a radical overhaul. Every sector requires a reset, and it is time for us to reclaim our destiny. We must rise up and demand better from our leaders. We owe it to ourselves, our children, and the future of our nation.
Will we continue to ride the dead horse of failed governance, or will we choose to be a nation on the move, driven by innovation, creativity, and a commitment to the well-being of all our citizens?
