AN INDEPENDENT GHANA OR A COLONIAL GHANA?

It is fifty six years already! For someone, that is a lifetime! At this age, people usually measure their achievements! Has Ghana gone far since independence? Or could she have been far off better, were she still a colony? Has our independence brought us more achievement or rather, been a curse in disguise? We know of structures in the colonial days of Ghana, which still stand! Compared to that of today, it is a shame!

Of course there would be several others who would vehemently oppose any of such thoughts! Of course, Ghana is far of better, they would say! We love our independence! At least, that is our pride! At least, we have the freedom to define ourselves! We have the freedom to make our own laws, and govern ourselves! We decide what we want as a nation! We make our own laws, and manage our own finances and assets!

But our finances and assets are being mismanaged in the Ghana of today, by Ghanaians! We are squandering our wealth and resources! We are making our own laws, but are not keeping them! How do we define ourselves; as a lawless bunch? Are we really enjoying this freedom?

To the hungry man, what is the essence of independence? To the poor and suffering, what is the essence of the independent pride? Pride is meaningless to the hungry, jobless, poor, sick, the insecure, and the homeless! Such are the realities! What has our independence brought us all, if we cannot boast of any development, as a nation, a people, and most importantly, as individuals!

Within this nation are people suffering from mental slavery! At our work places, homes, schools, hospitals, on the streets, they are everywhere! People are too scared to voice out their opinion! In our society, it is the play of supremacy and authority! It has been encased in our tribal and ethnic divides! And so is our social classification!

For those, still subjected to the inhumane aspects of our culture! It is in our words of discouragement and hopelessness! Such are the works of mental slavery; neocolonialism! Yes, we are being subjected to neocolonialism, by ourselves, and among ourselves! We would never want to assist each other, only because we always want to feel superior! Our individual interests first! How different is this from the past? How has this country empowered her people? How much has Ghana invested in her people? How much have Ghanaians invested in this nation?

Corruption has broken the scale in the Ghana of today! Jobs meant for Ghanaians are being given away each day, whiles a large number of our people are jobless! Our resources are being mismanaged! In the so-called free state of Ghana, accountability is zero! It is the reign of lawlessness and disorder! Productivity back then was much higher! No one cares for state property! People do as they please because there is no law! Is that the essence of independence? The mirage of independence!

Yes we are still colonized! We are enslaved with mental chains! Yes, we are failing to take charge of this nation as independent people! We still go borrowing, agreeing to the various terms set by these countries! Ghana cannot seem to do anything on her own, without a loan! Yes, the country goes begging each day and in return, we are told what to do with those monies! We are still being controlled!

Each day this country loses a huge percentage of her human resource to foreign markets! Our economy is dependent on foreign economies! Ghanaians are actually spending dollars these days! Perhaps we have only changed colonial masters! Should the colonial ships be brought into this country today just as was done in the past, it would be quite interesting the kind of scramble that would resort! Yes, in the so-called independent Ghana, Ghanaians would rather eagerly volunteer as slaves!

And yet we call ourselves independent! Our governance system is in itself an inheritance! Our laws are photocopies of that from our masters!

Independence is a state, and not a mere word! It is a stage of maturity and responsibility, and not a joke! We might claim to be independent, but that is only in words, because in truth, we are still slaves! Slaves of our mind! Slaves of our imaginations! Slaves of our fears! We are still slaves of poverty, diseases, underdevelopment, to mention but a few!

It is a sad thing to watch as Africans fight each other! We have turned on ourselves! The vast destruction to this continent, were not perpetrated by our colonial masters, but by Africans!

Until we learn to be responsible and matured, we would never be independent! Ghana is fifty six and a matured age indeed! We need to stop soliciting for loans, and rather take up a more self-reliant system of growth and development! We need to believe in ourselves and rely on ourselves! Ghana is endowed with so many natural resources! Our human resource base is quite enviable! How long would it take for this nation to realize that she is self-sufficient! We can only be truly independent when we are in absolute control of our resources, economy, people, and nation as a whole! We need to steer our affairs! Until then, Ghana is still dependent!

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com), Takoradi.

 

GHANA MUST SIT UP!

I have a state of the nation’s address! It is the reality in Ghana today! Ghana is fifty six years old, but has little to show for it! At times, I am tempted to conclude that Ghana would have been far of better, were she still a colony! Ghana must sit up!

Most homes in Ghana still have no access to basic toilet facilities! Numerous homes patronize public toilets or improvise at any available space! Our streets, gutters, public lands, dumpsites, abandoned structures, market places, to mention but a few are at their mercy! Indiscriminate littering of refuse and faeces! Management of waste in this country is still a hurdle! The country makes claim to sanitation laws and policies, but in truth, it is only a mere representation! Those laws are non-functional! I am yet to see a practical and holistically effective waste management system in this nation because in this country, the waste collected here today, becomes another waste elsewhere! Ghana must sit up!

Ghana makes claims to the implementation of the Free Compulsory Basic Education (FCUBE) but till now, things have seen no drastic improvement! Education is relatively free! As to the compulsory aspect, it is yet to be implemented! Within this country are communities without educational infrastructure; and yet, we keep talking about FCUBE! People have to virtually travel, in order to access mere basic education! Our schools lack teaching and learning materials, teachers, and infrastructure! Our educational structure is not job-oriented! Consequently, there is the usual unemployment saga after completion of education. Ghana must sit up!

Healthcare in Ghana is synonymous to death care! Several communities lack basic healthcare infrastructures! Those available are operating above capacity! The national health insurance policy is not realistic in areas without access to health centers! People have to travel in accessing healthcare in parts of this nation! Emergencies do not receive the needed attention, and so, mortality rate increases! Personnel, equipment and facilities, are major shortfalls in our health delivery system! Each year in Ghana, more health personnel turn out, but a percentage of these are not working as they should! People are refusing postage especially to our deprived communities! Ghana must sit up!

In the area of utilities, the country is in a crisis! All can attest to the fact that Ghana is currently facing power outages, water shortages, and fuel and gas shortages because our supply is inadequate! The government is yet to come to terms with this reality! There are virtually communities in our so-called modern and developing Ghana, who are yet to be connected to the national grid! There are several others yet to be connected to our urban water supply! In terms of fuel and gas, for these communities, it is only an urban legend! Ghana must sit up!

Transportation in Ghana is yet to receive the required attention! Road networks in most cities are in poor conditions, and several others, undeveloped! The railway network is still in the wake of its restoration and perhaps, extension! Air transportation is limited to the three major cities in Ghana, most of which are yet to be fully operational! Ghana must sit up!

There is a bottleneck of unemployment in this country! Attempts by governments to resolve this issue has failed. Many people are jobless! The educational reforms to place emphasis on job-creation or entrepreneurship, is not having its full impact! Our students are being offered programmes without bearings on the local job market! Industrialization is yet to attain its full fledge and so, unemployment persists! The private sector is failing to absorb the growing numbers, just as our public sectors have failed us! Ghana must sit up!

When it comes to the issue of security in Ghana, that is a fallacy! Our borders lay open to invaders, and trespassers! Each day, people sneak through, unnoticed! All kinds of crimes are being operated and coordinated in this nation! Illicit drugs are finding their way into the country through our ports, airports, and borders! Foreign nationals are trading freely and illegally! Ammunitions are being sneaked into our markets! The weapons being used by criminals in this country are far advanced, to that being used by our law officers! As to the law, I see no law because our laws are non-functional! Our law officers are themselves, culpable! Ghana must sit up!

In Ghana, accountability is zero! Corruption is high! Lawlessness reigns! The Ghanaian Cedi is fast losing its value and so, making trading very difficult especially for the ordinary Ghanaian! The prices of utilities keep soaring whiles service delivery keeps getting poorer! The price of transportation keeps soaring, whiles accessibility remains a problem! Access to accommodation is a hurdle, and the rates, unbearable! The current standard of living in Ghana is fast becoming outrageous! It is becoming outrageously expensive, living in this country! That is the state of our nation today! Ghana must sit up!

But of course, there is hope! We have tomorrow, to right our wrongs! We have today to make things right by taking lessons from yesterday, in planning for tomorrow! All this is only achievable, when we keep to our social laws! Our laws keep us in check, because in truth, most of us are indisciplined! Ghana seems to be growing, but only backwards. That is the state of our nation!

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com), Takoradi.

THE PASSIVE GHANAIAN: THE NEED FOR A FOCUS GROUP

There are so many issues that Ghanaians need to recognize, and address! The real issue confronting Ghana is that, Ghanaians only talk! We only complain, and after a few days, the issue dies! Ghanaians need to start asking the right questions!

Is there anything like transparency and accountability in Ghana?

In the past year, several issues have surfaced. Each has been met with public outcry and debate. Like the Woyome saga, Ghanaians talked endlessly, and at the moment, a greater percentage of the populace has lost interest in this issue, completely! We have given up! Yes, the Ghanaian gives up too easily! Like so many other equally important, we have given up, and allowed them to go! We allow things to go bad! Instead of salvaging, we give up! This very attitude is applicable to our approach to life; passiveness! Yes, this country is made up of passive Ghanaians! We only tell ourselves that nothing can be done when confronted with a problem, and then surrender! We console ourselves by saying that what matters is for us to survive daily, and so, accepted mediocrity! And so, it is the reign of mediocrity! Consequently, people go unpunished for any offense! Our leaders go scot-free without any accountability because Ghanaians have accepted mediocrity! The passive Ghanaian!

How often do our sectional, district, regional, or national leaders organize forums to educate citizens on the progress being made on projects? Have we ever received any form of education on revenue generation in our various localities, and how these monies are being disbursed? Are our opinions sought on national policies and projects? As citizens, do we demand periodic reports or updates on on-going projects? Do we show any interest at all?  As always, we only pass by! As a taxpayer, have you ever demanded a breakdown on how your taxes are used? We often hear stories of mismanagement of taxes and other revenues; have you ever demanded for any account? We pay taxes, but never bother to enquire how these taxes are used! We never ask the right questions! That is the Ghanaian, passive as always!

Several projects lay abandoned and no leader has taken responsibility! Several loans have been solicited, and till date, no proper account has been given! We are only told of the amount involved, and the specific project for which it is to be used! And that ends everything! What about the other relevant details; the actual breakdown for each project? What about information on the actual terms and agreements for these loans or grants? We should be given more information on how the country is expected to repay these loans! There is always a price to be paid! Of course, the Ghanaian is only interested in the structure! If indeed, we want to address the issues of transparency and accountability in this nation, as our leaders so-call it, more information, is needed, other than the usual execution and commissioning dates respectively!  Our leaders should be held accountable! But can accountability be ensured when citizens are passive?

Passiveness is not a positive attitude! It hinders growth and development! Let us ask the right questions, and demand answers! The keyword is demand! We must make demands, and ensure that those demands are met! There are so many on-going projects that most of us have no clue of! Of these, the requisite information is not made public, and if made, woefully inconclusive! We need more information, other than the usual talk of a grant, and the usual contract sum! We should be given a detailed progress report in line with expenditure so that we can take proper stock! We need to be pro-active especially about issues affecting this nation!

 In the past, focus groups have been formed, with the sole aim of securing the interest of Ghanaians. Along the line however, and rather disappointingly, these groups have turned political! They have been compromised! As soon as money exchanges hands, the vision is lost! For this nation to progress, we need a group that is completely non-partisan! In order to fully and adequately monitor a government, the group must not compromise on the truth! This group should be made of us all, Ghanaians! The group should probe all governmental issues, policies, projects to ensure transparency, accountability, commitment, and execution! Only Ghanaians, can solve the problems, confronting this nation but for that to happen, we need impartial people; Ghanaians with a common agenda of securing the common interest of this nation!

Let us desist from the politics of electing leaders to do as they please! Just as Ghanaians have the duty of voting, the leaders have an equal responsibility of putting into action, the mandate of Ghanaians! For that to be effective, there should be a monitoring system! This should be by all Ghanaians! Let us learn to show interest in the things around us! In our localities, let us ask questions, and demand answers! Ghana is your property! Ghana needs active citizens!

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com), Takoradi.

REMODELING GHANA, FROM THE DRAWING BOARD

 

As a social commentator, it is indeed interesting and amazing the kind of responses I receive from readers! Apart from a few well-meaning Ghanaians, the response from a vast majority has always been disappointing! I have been called all sorts of names; demeaning indeed but that would not discourage me!

As it stands now, a vast majority of Ghanaians are in denial! We are unwilling to admit that things are going bad! For each wrong in our society, people accepted it by forging one excuse after the other, as a defense!

If indeed Ghanaians would want to move forward by starting afresh, we need to start from the drawing board! We need to go back in order to move forward!

Our national anthem says it all! “God bless our homeland Ghana, and make our nation great and strong, bold to defend forever….” Most Ghanaians have forgotten in entirety, the words of our national anthem! Those words are a summary of our history, and a lasting reminder to all of us! In our anthem, all are expected to uphold and defend the good name of Ghana! Our national pledge is an oath by all to the nation! “I promise on my honour, to be faithful and loyal to Ghana, my motherland….”

How do we achieve any of these? From our actions and inactions each day, we stray! How do we defend the good name of Ghana? Is it through bribery and corruption? Is it through embezzlements and misappropriation of funds? Is it through tribalism and nepotism? Is it through laziness? Is it through lawlessness and chaos? Is it through lies? Is it through murder? Or is it through robbery?

This country goes soliciting for loans for any project, however small, when our national resources are being squandered! Revenues keep disappearing from our national coffers! People have turned themselves into banks and are helping themselves to our monies, without any fear or shame! Of course no one would question them! On one would punish them! What do we expect? Who punishes who, when all are involved? Who criticizes who, when all are guilty?

On our streets, roam the careless drivers, who have complete disregard for any road sign or signal! They speed off, and no one complains; at most, they get a warning, after bribing law enforcement officers! Our streets have become minimarkets overnight to the patronage of all! We complain about traffic build up and filth in our cities, when in truth, we are culpable! We patronize street hawkers, and keep littering and yet complain afterwards! In the end, we send in a taskforce, who only capitalize on the moment for their own interest! They take bribes, and look the other way!

Children are raped, and rather disappointingly, the Ghanaian is eager to resolve the issue at home! People are murdered, and in the end, the perpetrators go scot-free when money is exchanged! Everything favours the highest bidder!

At our workplaces absolute unproductiveness reigns and yet, we complain about delays in services when we fall victim! We squander funding for projects, but complain about inadequacy and unavailability of infrastructure or logistics! We go about exploiting other children, while our children are given maximum protection, but complain about child exploitation, illiteracy, and abuse! Instead of sticking to the queue, we choose the shortcuts, but later complain when we experience bottlenecks elsewhere! What hypocrisy!

We want preferential treatment, and yet complain when others receive it! We are guilty of tribalism, nepotism, and favouritism but only complain when we fall victim! We complain about inflation, and yet seize the least opportunity to manipulate prices of goods and services! We hoard, and yet complain about shortages! We refuse to pay for goods and services, and yet complain about inconsistency in delivery! We offer bribes, and yet complain about bribery! We accept wrong! Indeed, we celebrate it by calling it a smart move! Of course, the smart ones never get caught! A person is only a thief when caught! Innocent until proven guilty! And so, the thieves keep roaming our streets, whiles their trade blossoms!

We are corrupt, but complain about corruption! Corruption is no mere word! Corruption is not a name! Corruption is an activity! It is an action! It takes place in several ways, it takes several forms! As always, we point accusing fingers at others, while we make excuses for ourselves! For this, Ghana suffers! For this, Ghana is underdeveloped! For this, all suffer! If truly this country is to tackle the issue of corruption, it must start from us all! Putting an end to corruption needs a collective effort! It should be holistic!

Down with tribalism! Down with nepotism and favouritism! Down with absenteeism! No to lawlessness! No to bribery! We all need a renewal of mind! We need a change in ideology! This country needs citizens with a common agenda of promoting the growth of this nation through fairness, lawfulness, peace, hard work, dedication, selflessness, and unity! That would be the surest means to a remodeled Ghana! It begins with you!

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com), Takoradi.