Little did I know that nation?s own sons and daughters could be against themselves and the nation itself.Partly because it is usually not taking for granted what one depends on for livelihood. Regrettably, it is the reverse in the case of Ghanaians. Ghanaians from my own point of view, lack much more than significant measures to update us on why at all do we have to strive for the well-being of our nation, They claim of education. Of course, it is not undoubted that education plays a magnificent part in alerting and assuring the mind of the unknown. However, it is still pertinent to consider the higher strength of attitude at the expense of the acquisition of knowledge whatsoever. Despite our great exposure to poverty, we need attest to the fact that as we see a great mansion, it started from somewhere and ended at somewhere else.
Our bad attitude is a highly dominating factor hindering the contributing factors of Ghanaians towards our national development. Attitude actually defines what a person is at a point in time. It includes the person?s willingness to undertake a certain tasks. There are several terrible attitudes Ghanaians never cease portraying. Examplesinclude laziness ?as portrayed in the various working sectors, theft, bribery and corruption, embezzlement, incompetence, unfaithfulness, lateness, shirking of responsibilities, confliction, assault, disrespectfulness, eager to cheat, arrogance as a result of given posts, to mention but few. In fact, these entire adverse attitudes have to meet immediate stoppage.
Undeniably, Ghana?s undevelopment still remains highly attitudinal, very conservative, full of negativism and passivityat the side of the people within. For example, most youth, up to the twenty-first century still look forward to the government to find them jobs to make life. This sorry attitude has currently made the country popularly poor where even university graduates are enthusiastic enough to call themselves ?unemployed?. Unknowingly, the government might have done it side by paving ways or better still creating opportunities. Sometimes even, clearly defined jobs are made available in the system but these ones under-classify these jobs due to low salary or the job been less prestigious, as compared to the level of certificate they claimto hold. Others too will emerge with some reasons which actually have no logical grounds. I term them as learned but ignorant. People tend to forget the fact that success emerges from difficulties. Throwing of refuse indiscriminately has further become the other of the day. Unlike Switzerland, Denmark, Germany and other western countries, throwing of refuse here in Ghana is not uncommon at all. It?s becoming more or less a normality, for victims are left unchecked, left alone penalties. There is hence no significant departure of pandemics from the people of Ghana. This and other relevant relating attitudes culminate in putting unnecessary, yet much pressure on the government. Consequently, no amount of support or fund is enough, not well-embracing to the government; making it ever-dependant.
To my precious reader, Ghana?s independence is greatly by principle, not by practice. On the contrary, nothing is too late. Development is, but not too far from us. All can be re-organized, but seriously with radical steps, for nothing good is easily achievable in life. The ideology of ethnicity is highly predominant in the day to day activities of greater percentage of Ghanaians. Less premium is hence put on the second and third parties of ethnic groups; taking into consideration difference in cultural practices. They include housing system, the kind of food taken, languages spoken, beliefs and other relating logistics. The hold of one in higher esteem has led to great division and paralysis of togetherness ?very sad news! This is absolutely irrelevant. It is important each and every Ghanaian discard this unimportant ideology for it forms no part to developing a country. Rather, the focus of achieving a better Ghana should be our priority.
Obviously, eventhough may not be to many others, there are variety of ways through which one portrays his sense of loyalty and heartfelt attitudes to Ghana?s growth and prosperity. It should be borne in mind however that all these can?t be kept in motion but only with willingness. In sum, the feeling of togetherness should be as Ghanaians, but not as the Akan or the Ewe. Ghanaians further remain the responsibility of cultivating the desire of praising, raising and protecting the image of Ghana. Inevitably some sectors may be detrimental, others will not. Whatever the case may be, it will be flawed to turn ones back to his country, even when the whole world does so. Our flag need to be waved, the constitution has to be protected, and local currency usage needs to be encouraged much more than any other country?s own. Moreover, locally made products and services should be heavily patronized at the expense of foreign goods and services. All these and other relating ones contribute to hailing, praising and protecting the good name of Ghana. Very unfortunately, very marginalnumber of Ghanaians do this. The majority do not. They love more every little foreign affair. Ghanaians love the use of dollar than the Ghana cedi, to the extent people hold bank accounts with foreign currencies. They prefer importing foreign goods than the ones within. These so-called first class people rich in education and in finance seek to render their richness acquired in Ghana to some of these foreign countries in a very high competence and commitment in order to maintain if not topromote the wellbeing of these companies and the nation at large. The thought of Ghana is nothing closer to their minds; meanwhile they might have been borne and nurtured in Ghana for number of years. What?s more, other Ghanaians too, intentionally deliver their children outside the country or if more sorrowfully, naturalise their siblings to instead belong to the so called wealthy countries.
It is incredible to notice that people trample on something they claim to cherish. It is therefore equally important to underscore that noting is worth valuable than one?s own property, and that there is the need to preserve it with all that it takes. In the same vein, it is not that amazing if some policemen, other civil servants, and even some so-called big men in government cannot recite the Ghana national anthem and national pledge, for they seek not to know and more importantly, even be identified as Ghanaians, but pathetically, can never stop themselves from collecting bribes. This sad situation of Ghanaians has had a very profound effect since our acquisition of freedom from our colonial masters. Upon all these, although we seriously call for God?s prohibition, if prudent steps are not taken forth,undesirable scenes will be right before our sights and the yet-to-come generations. I was sad one day when walking along the street and noticed a sticker put in front of two vehicles at a time, depicting the flag of America. I suddenly asked myself that why do we put on a mask which makes us appear what we are not? I guess it is more important we sell our diseases in order to get the right medicines for them, rather than hiding and dying in silence.
Furthermore, our mentality concerning discrimination and linguistic difference needs to be thrown away, and each should be willing to offer aid to any other person in need, if possible. Classless nation is relevant to be built. Individuals? hope to be more and more powerful than other people is of no importance if we really seek for the heed of Ghana. Additionally, the fruit of love need to be cultivated on the rich land of Ghana. Realistically, the realm of love does not embrace discrimination, dishonest, hatred, conflict, corruption and bribery, impatience and unfaithfulness towards each other. This really tells us that Ghanaians ability to cultivate this fruit of love will eliminate all stacked elements of progress and impediments of success which seek to jeopardise the plans of Ghana?s sectors and to paralyse her (Ghana?s) limbs of development.
Indeed, we should all be the spearhead towards Ghana?s victory; and by so doing, it serves as a plain way by which we all can make progress. This is in the sense that obeying the laws will facilitate easy business flow without fear, national stability, security and many more. Otherwise, ways will be blocked and wheels will be fragmented with invisible pieces. The president of Ghana (2012-2016) ?John Dramani Mahama on the 2nd of January, 2015, stressed on the need for Ghanaians to be optimists, rather than pessimists. Indeed the optimist mind is more probing to glory.
Heart of greediness is also a major deterrent to national growth. It calls for all and sundry to eschew heart of greed. The desire-to-get attitude of many Ghanaians causes them to be greedy which in turns dump them into deep pits. Moreover, this attitude triggers one to be more energetic to get what the person want, sometimes which seems impossible. Murder, becomes the order of the day, robbery, which sum up to human risk, and very quick and unsafe manner of undertaking dangerous activities, especially by the youth. Greedy is a very harmful human inhabitant and a hurdle towards development. It is advisable everyone holds into high esteem every little thing one has; promoting it should then be through the acceptable means. The desire to adapt to any other foul mean is tantamount to shortening one?s life. The root cause of greediness is that of jealousy. In one way or the order, we should do well to take away these ugly twins to ensure the smooth growth of Ghana.
It is absolutely incomplete if the deal with God is left uncovered, for without Him nothing is impossible. Three major religions exist in Ghana ?Islam, Christianity and Tradition. If Ghanaians are to be reminded with this, the difference in religion actually holds no key to development. It is therefore not important to tolerate that in any sense. I intensely hope that the belief and firm-hold of each can strongly culminate in eliminating negativities in working fields and co-operation with one another. This can attribute to the fact that complying and addicting to the rules and regulations indicated by God or the specified supreme object of worship (gods) will shift one?s mind from evil to good and from darkness to light. Infact, any country with distinct existence of God is like a seed put on a rock; it perishes in no time since it has gotten no nutrients to facilitate its growthand its exposure to heavy sun rays and unfriendly weather.
The truth should be borne in the mind of Ghanaians and we should skip pretence on the face of humanity. The useof the Qur?an in the mosque and the Bible at church service is not enough; so as wearing of crucifix,beautiful and perhaps decent dresses is barely less important. The speak of ?tongues?, incantation and the endless prayers is not all. The church denomination one attends neither the daily fast from dawn to dusk does safe the sinking image of Ghana. However, with the case of Ghanaians, much preference is put in religious difference and affiliations, beliefs; and that has given birth to discrimination and religious conflict. You might want to consider all these but I entreat everyone to avoid extreme concentration than putting the well-being of the country at heart and ensuring your part is performed exactly as expected. God almighty Himself says the love for one?s country marks halve of one?s faith. From the Holy prophet Mohammed saw, ?Love for one?s country is a part of faith? or read ?Roman 13:7-8/John 3:16 I also will like to assure my dear reader that I am in no way underrating the worship or devotion to ones God or gods; but He Himself made it clearer to us that the lazy hands deserves no food. In other words, no one reap the fruit of success if he does not work for it. It is beyond reasonable doubtthat no one does evil deeds to his partner if one surely follows the doctrines of his God (or god). We boast of ?big? religions, yet greater sins are been committed against one own country and selves. A contributing step is that the youth of Ghana should shy away from forcing themselves to be what they?re not in religious fields. I mean false prophethood and pastors. They claim to be ?Men of God? but speak with the lips of the devil; trapping innocent souls into darkness.
The search of much wealth has turned the mind of most preachers to methods of eliciting more amount of money from the poor ones who have no eyes. These people seek for non-existing miracles rather than toiling seriously towards it attainment. Largely due to that, laziness has befallen many Ghanaians. These victims therefore hold the responsibility to be extra alert and more vigilant. Our long stay in poverty will send us far and breeds very much awkward behaviour such as afore-mentioned. Again it has made the people more subservient to the rich and the powerful ones. Conversely, these powers of theirs degenerate excessively and thus build up their mind to be the ?Masters of all?. With regard to this, I urge every Ghanaian to take upon himself the problem of the other through which I?m deeply convinced that all shall be regarded as the same, but not as different; as a forest, not as trees, as a family with a common destiny, not as individual members with a common fate.
My words may sound very delightful to many, but I may still be criticised for maintaining another crucial point unsaid ?Education. As probably it is commonly said that it is only light that drives away darkness, nothing else, education is a greater driving force for generating much more entities needed to hold the wings of Ghana. Nevertheless the nature of Ghanaians can also severely compel me to conclude that there is a noteworthy departure between education and the people of Ghana. Very few people involve themselves in education I mean. They say it?s too expensive; the rest see it as a waste of time. Someother people too see it as not a faster way of making life easier, therefore not that important. They have many but similar and flimsy excuses and consequently shy away education. Laziness! I consider as a major, if not the main source for these excuses. Most Ghanaians value engaging themselves in unnecessary conversation, gossip and other relating needless and earnless activities. They do this at the expense of attending to school or working hard to pay their children?s school fees. Education in the sense of males and females are the same and similarly pertinent. However I will hold it more prior in the case of females, chiefly due to their fragility.
The gender inequity as far education is concern led the eminent statesman ?Dr.KwagyirAggrey to conclude that if you educate a man you educate a single person, but if educate a woman you educate a whole nation. Education, I will define as the apex in the process of success. The Holy Scriptures attest to this very fact: lack of knowledge my people perish. In actual fact, education paves many opportunities for people; therefore creating a gradual elimination of Ghana?s infinite cry for monetary support, jobs, security, assets, access to various amenities and many other relevant opportunities. It is something viewed as a prerequisite to good citizenship, in that it helps citizens to make good decision and deal with demagogues who will delude them ?Wikipedia.It is therefore incumbent upon each and every Ghanaian youth to make education his priority, no matter the situation. Unfortunately however, fair number of couples and the females themselves especially see no need to further their education when they realise they will be given out for marriage in the hands of men. The men (or the boys) on the other hand never manage the little they haveat least for the sake of education, instead, they are seen spending their earnings lavishly on unscrupulous ladies, gambling, and more seriously, drinking and smoking. I once had a chart with a school drop-out at a village I visited, when I asked him what made him quit schooling. He had nothing reasonable to say than to tell me ?I just feel like?. Meanwhile he is just a poor boy with no promising future. I was simply sorry for him after he had appeared to deny my advice.
While educated people in developed countries like the United Kingdom and America is rating around 98-99%, Ghana rates around 45%. No wonder the latter is underdeveloped. With no doubt, when education dominates, there will be competent people in practical sense to lead and serve the nation better than what we see now. Additionally, citizens will come know what is expected of them. They include paying of taxes, cutting down birth rate, contributing to national development and being patriotic in the larger sense; which means that the youth?s active involvement will reform the plummeting image of Ghana. Non-existence of these, as we can see, has led to evade from tax payment, teenage pregnancy, brain drain, high increase in birth rate and many more. Moreover the youth?s desire to be like any of these developed countries will do us no favour than to dump us in a difficult task; all the bad and expired ways of thinking need to be discarded with immediate effect.
To add to what has been already said, administration of the country since her attainment of freedom from her colonial masters has been apparently and significantly far from right and clarity ?fairly bitter. The country, since decades has been ruled by number of men of selfishness. This has been inherited by today?s youth of Ghana. Most have developed the love to enter into politics not to add to the requisite ideas or measures to foster national development, not to committedly serve and save the precarious state of Ghana, or for the love of the country, but to amass wealth, particularly, achieve popularity ?useless fame and honour. Indeed the government of Ghana is nothing less than a ?play field? where anybody struggles to be a player and does what he likes when on the field. Why this case?It never stops puzzling my mind. Most youth of Ghana have turned to be insatiable and voracious forceful politicians at the expense of the nation?s well-being. These ones need to be reminded that the rise of conflict, countless number of deaths and frequent flee of resourceful citizens due to constant strikes and other indisciplinary acts which make the country inimical, all originates mainly from how best the country managed by the government.Besides, our thinner interest always must be sacrificed for the sake of the broader national interest.
Apart from that,government officials are beseeched to be smarter than before to fighting against all the existing and yet-to-come bad practicesand all the anti-development human beings which serves as a hurdle to our advancement. Unquestionably, people who stand to do this call for much criticism. It is better that way for good name is better than riches. To the critics, criticism should never be the most important advent on everybody?s lips. We don?t have to forget that making it too much will in no way solve our problem, but will rather worsen it. It is always more appropriate to sit and plan to find the remedy to a problem than to sit and make less important noise. That is exactly the nature of outstanding number of Ghanaians. To them, criticizing the government is sweeter than collecting their salary. This business of criticism has drowned a lot of Ghanaians and that has taken away their conscience towards relevant issues. This is absolutely amazing! Ghanaians have gotten muchmore to do, yet unknown. It is obvious my reader may finally conclude that I am opposed to criticism. However, my intention is far from the case. Indeed criticism forms a section of every Ghanaian?s responsibilities. My emphases lies on the point that limit should be put on how it is made.
It is further imperative a say is made on measure through which Ghanaians elect members in governmental offices. To my best of knowledge, the competent the person elect, the better and growth of Ghana. Unfortunately, this idea is out of most Ghanaians? mind. Vote is cast not in the name of competence, sincerity, honesty, transparency, faithfulness or any good working ethics, rather in the name of ?my brother?, ?my family member?, ?my church member?, familiarity, and notably tribalism; ignoring the person?s incompetence, ignorance and disloyalty. While they already know very well that all these afore-mentioned qualities deserves no placement as far as everyone hopes to achieve a better Ghana is concern. My other brotherly advice goes that eventhough this very attitude does not pertain only in Ghana, but also dominates in almost all other African countries and even many other European countries as well, together we should all have an open eyes, heart and mind ready to reject any irrelevant material striving to get into the affairs of Ghana.
Before my article ends, I?ll love to construct few statements on ways to safeguardour good health. All our manoeuvres will be a mirage if upright swing of mind is not put on our health issues. Wastes shouldn?t be indiscriminately disposed, but should always be disposed in trash cans. Not all, passengers should shun throwing rubbish on the street; however should always be kept inside the vehicle. Good health is very important and must be regarded as such. As a result of that, we have to be more careful and observe the requirements methodically, for it?s only a sound body that has a sound mind.To my ideal readers, we should allow the past take care of itself and make our focus on the present and the future, while we say big ?bye? to all these ill-attitudes. They have nothing doing with our goal of making a better Ghana. When given a position, we should all count it an opportunity through which we can deliver our maximum best in re-positioning Ghana when ?powerful nations? worldwide are ranked. Ghanaians placed at various public and private sectors should avoid eagerness to personal wealth and be dedicated to their work, thusseeking for the betterment of Ghana first. This calls from the head (president of the nation) to the toe (the grass root level) to perform all duties they have to efficiently and effectively.Again we must be ever grateful to God, even though all is not well, for granting us peace we continue to enjoy as nobody goes to sleep wondering whether there will be any bomb explosion in our localities.
Above and beyond, Ghanaians should make a backward glance at the past when some people toiled grievously and in extreme bloody pains all to gain independent for us. With that in mind, our deeds have to reflect our appreciation to them and the wish to perpetuate their good works they pursued. Remember the betterment of Ghana lies on nobody else but you and I. Thank You!
BY:
MARFO HUSSAIN YUSIF.
UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA.
AtwimaKoforidua-GHANA
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