In view of recent developments of an increasingly disturbing nature, I feel compelled as a concerned citizen to share my genuine and sincere thoughts. I do so from a place of care, not contention. Ghana is my home. I write because I believe that words, when used honestly, can still serve as a meaningful contribution to national growth, alongside the many other ways citizens give of themselves to this country.
The direction in which events seem to be unfolding awakens a quiet but persistent sense of unease. Permit me, therefore, to express these sentiments, sentiments only, yet deeply felt. I am mindful that in our present society, genuine opinions are rarely allowed to stand on their own. Too often, they are quickly misunderstood or deliberately recast through the narrow lens of partisan allegiance. No matter how valid a concern may be, it is swiftly swept under the carpet of political colour. Sadly, this habit lies at the very heart of many of our national challenges. Indeed, even this article may be viewed through partisan eyes by those unwilling to engage it with objectivity.
For those who continually ask how this country keeps sinking how familiar problems persist without resolution, it may be worth reflecting on our own role in this cycle. Our tendency to immediately dismiss, debate, or defend issues along partisan lines leaves little room for honest interrogation. Important matters become trivialised, reduced to shouting matches rather than opportunities for solutions. As a result, lasting answers continue to elude us, and the same issues resurface time and again. Still, I acknowledge and respect those who genuinely believe that all is well.
Predictably, our leaders often the greatest beneficiaries of this dysfunction have learned to deploy partisanship as a convenient shield. We have all listened to interviews where pressing questions are skillfully sidestepped or derailed once politics enters the conversation. What is perhaps more painful is that ordinary citizens, the very people most affected often play along. There is a peculiar mix of sadness and frustration that comes with listening to radio discussions where callers strain to justify obvious failures, offering excuses on behalf of those entrusted with leadership.
As healthcare struggles, education falters, infrastructure deteriorates, and basic services weaken, one must ask: who bears the greatest cost?
How do we meaningfully assess the performance of our elected officials if citizens are unable to raise concerns without being shouted down, labelled, or dismissed? How do we push ourselves toward higher standards when mediocrity is normalized and even defended? How do we grow as a nation if honest conversation is stifled by fear, fear of intimidation, victimization, or the endless cycle of rationalizations that excuse underperformance?
In the end, the question remains unavoidable:
Who truly suffers the most?
Perhaps the answer lies not only in those who govern, but also in how we, as citizens, choose to engage, or disengage, from the hard but necessary work of holding our nation to account.
Anna Esi Hanson
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