The problems of every country are well defined by its citizens. "The black man is capable of managing his own resources."- Dr.Kwame Nkrumah. Is this statement factually true??
Whether the above statement is true or not, I am not in the right position to decide. It's subject to debate. Ghana is a blessed nation. Indeed Ghana is a blessed nation. It does not matter how blessed a nation is , if its citizens do not make good use of the blessing, it rather turns into a curse; Mother Ghana is an epitome of the above illustration.
Our nation is blessed with numerous natural resources such as Gold,diamond, bauxite, manganese, timber,Cocoa, Oil, etc. but the country is still wallowing in an abject penury. The big question is, na who cause am? The blame cannot be shifted on a single person at the moment simply because we all fall victim to the cause; We are the cause of our own problems. An average Ghanaian is corrupt, selfish, unpatriotic, lazy, spendthrift and wicked. We don't think about our nation when taken an action that would in the end, cost the nation wilfully.
THE MAIN CAUSE OF OUR DOWNFALL AS A NATION:
Over Partisan politicization of pertinent issues in this country has been the main problem in our Democratic dispensation and it will take so many years for this to go into extinction. Undeniably, this has adversely affected our nation in diverse ways. The mentality that, if not NDC; it's NPP and vice versa, is the main cause of our problem.
FROM THE YEAR 2000-2020; THE JOURNEY SO FAR:
Prior to the year 2000 general elections, Ghanaians were complaining bitterly about the then Government (NDC party were in government) led by H.E J.J Rawlings.
Majority of Ghanaians were sick and tired of the then government and had wanted the government to be voted out. In view of that, Ex-President John Evans Attah-Mills (Vice President before the elections) who was flagbearer for the NDC, lost to President Agyekum Kuffour.
Kuffour was sworn-in as the President on 7th January, 2001 by the then Chief Justice; Justice Georgina Woods. In fact, a lot of Ghanaians were very much happy with his style of governance during his first 4 years and so he started receiving series of accolades and prominent amongst them was the 'Gentle-Giant' mantra. Many People thought Kuffour could lead Ghana to the promising land because they initially fell in love with his governance. He introduced series of social intervention policies such school feeding program, free maternity care, Mutual Health Insurance, Metro Mass Transit etc.
On 7th December, 2004, Ghanaians once again went to the polls and then again voted Kuffour to retain power as the President of the state. They reposted the confidence they had in the first four years in him, thinking that he would continue with the same style of governance. He tried his possible best to get on track and Ghanaians started nagging. They complaints were so much so that, they lost confidence in him and decided to vote out his political party which was in government after another 4 years.
Ghanaians, thought it wise to vote the then first biggest opposition party (National Democratic Congress) lef by John Evans Mills, which had been in government before. 'Sankofa' which literary means, 'go and take it again' became the mantra. Ghanaians went to the polls on 7th December, 2008 and eventually Prof. Evans Attah-Mills won the elections. President Attah-Mills (may his soul rest in peace) started on a good note and along the way here comes another nagging from Ghanaians.
Unfortunately, the then president couldn't exhaust his four years and met his untimely death on 24th July, 2012. The then Vice-president, John Dramani Mahama as lucky as he could be immediately became the president of the land in order o fulfill the constitution requirement. Ghanaians had no other choice than to succumb to his style of governance simply because, he had had a lot experience as far as democracy and governance are concern.
Lo and behold, Ghanaians began to complain about his style of governance even though he tried his possible to do what he could. H.E John Dramani Mahama spent 4 years as a President on the seat and eventually voted out. He is still seeking to be voted as a flag bearer and lead his party come 2020.
On 7th December,2016, Mahama lost to Akuffo-Addo who had contested for the third time on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party. He has a four-year mandate to prove to Ghanaians that he is the right man for the job. In less than 2 years in power, Ghanaians have already started complaining. When will the complaints end?
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEMS?
One would clearly deduce that, the solution to our problems does not lie in the bosom of the politicians. The politicians are not ready to help us. Other than that, right from the onset, our problems would have been solved. They have rather ameliorated the problems. We need not to rely on politicians for the solutions of our problems. We simply have to work assiduously as citizens and desist from anything that inhibits our progress.
Our politicians have failed us, our traditional leaders have also disappointed us, our religious leaders are rather worst. Who should we consult in terms of difficulties? Those to consult are even in a state of quagmire. Where else should we go? Both the NPP and the NDC have had ample time to rule this nation but Ghana is still where it was sometime ago. Fellow Ghanaians, let us rise today and build Ghana for posterity. Indeed, NDC-NPP is the major cause of our problems.
Kind regards,
Columnist: Obed Sarfo Awuah
(Kwame Sarfo)
Tel: +233540310610/+233549853857.
