Why has Ghana become a beggar in spite of her huge Human and Natural Resources?

Ghana is one of the most favoured countries in the world, as far as climatic conditions, human and natural resources are concerned.

Even our position or where we lie on the world map is so significant that it can reap huge revenue for our country Ghana.

As far as our human and natural resources are concerned, I see Ghana as a country that can easily offer its children, genuine, better and free education from kindergarten to the university level.

I see Ghana as a country that can give stipends to people who find it very difficult to get a meaningful and sustainable job to do.

Ghana's population, human and natural resources are such that unemployment can easily be eliminated.

Unfortunately, inspite of the great blessings that Ghana is endowed with, Ghana has become a beggar. In Ghana today, if our political leaders do not go around with bow in hand, begging for money, we will not even be able to pay for our foreign debts.

Today, we are being told that there is a deep black hole in our economy, yet our political leaders are telling us that they are the best managers of the economy.

The question is, if Ghana is so much endowed with huge human and natural resources, why has Ghana become a beggar?

After 64 years of independence, why are so many people in Ghana wallowing in abject poverty, slavery and misery? Why are so many Ghanaians experiencing so much economic hardships today?

What I find it very difficult to understand is, the voice of the voiceless in Ghana, especially, the media houses are not interested in probing and discussing the above questions.

I do not hear or see the above questions taking centre stage in the media space. The above questions are not given prominence in our public and national discourse, why?. It appears Parliament has not even thought of the above questions.

Yet, a mere dreadlocks issue of some few students, issue that can easily be settled in private, without any hullabaloo, is being giving so much prominence in our media space, public and national discourse. The dreadlocks issue is now in Parliament. Sometimes it appears, as a nation, we do not know how to prioritize our needs.

As I reflect with the nation on our unfortunate situation, I would like to point out for our consideration and action, some of the major reasons why, inspite of our huge human and natural resources, Ghana has become a beggar.

1. Since the overthrow of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, all our political leaders refused to take significant and meaningful steps to make sure that Ghana owns all her natural resources.

2.Since the overthrow of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, our political leaders refused to take significant and meaningful steps to make sure that great value was put on our natural resources.

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah started building gold refinery. Today, the refinery project is a rotten project in the bush. What a shame!

In fact, the said refusal of our political leaders, is not based on the fact that Ghana is incapable of owing her natural resources or adding great value to them, no. It's simply because it appears, they enjoy seeing majority of their citizens poor.

When majority of the citizens are poor, the political leaders take advantage of them for their personal gains.

When majority of the citizens are poor, it enables the political leaders to give to the citizens, what the said leaders want and not what the citizens need or want; because it is said that the poor man has no choice.

Probably, the National Democratic Congress ( NDC ) has come to realize this unfortunate situation of the poor masses, hence it is now trying to present to Ghana, The people's Manifesto.

When majority of the citizens are poor, it enables the political leaders to buy their consciences and votes. It also helps some of the political leaders to use them to intimidate and kill their opponents for their personal gains.

3. Another major reason why Ghana has become a beggar is that those of us who are being ruled, do not have the braveness of our forefathers, that paved the way for Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to lead us into independence.

Consequently, the citizens are unable to take significant and meaningful actions to hold the ruling government accountable for its actions and inactions.

For example, all kinds of uncompleted and abandoned infrastructural projects are scattered all over the country and the chiefs and people of the places where we have the said projects, just look on helpless.

Another typical example is that within the past 4 years, the loans and internal revenue that the ruling government, has received on behalf of Ghana, is unprecedented.

Unfortunately, majority of Ghanaians are only making to much noises about the unprecedented loans that the ruling government has received.

Nobody, no civil organization, no recognized body, none of the voice of the vioceless in Ghana, is taking significant and meaningful actions to put positive pressure on the ruling government, to account for all the loans and grants it has received within the past four years.

Our Parliament is supposed to be the official mouth piece of the citizenry, as far as making sure that the ruling government accounts for its stewardship, but because of the kind of partisan politics played in the chamber, the citizenry is always taken for a ride.

Let the citizens of Ghana know and believe that when the ruling government gets the feeling that the citizens can only back and cannot bite, it plunders the national purse without thinking and without mercy.

In summary, it can be said without fear or favour that Ghana has become a beggar and that majority of her children are wallowing in unacceptable economic hardships, simply because, the citizens are not able to take positive actions to put positive pressure on the ruling government to account for its stewardship.

Ghana has public account committees, but with all due respect, they are like toothless dogs, they can back but cannot bite. When huge funds are stolen from the public purse by government officials, the said committees, only make it known to the public for our talks and gossip and nothing else.

When the Auditor - General brings out its reports, nobody takes it seriously, hence in most cases, if not all, offenders go scot-free. What kind of nation are we building for ourselves today and the next generation?

Fellow Ghanaians, for the sake of the well - being of all Ghanaians and our future generation, let us arise, do away with compromises that are very detrimental to the welfare of all Ghanaians.

With the greatest determination, let us learn to hold our ruling government accountable for their actions and inactions/stewardship, without fear or favour.

I believe, with the said determination, we will be able to liberate Ghana from her begging status and make her an advanced country that all of us will be very proud of, for we have all that it takes to do so.

By Rev. Fr. Ignatius James Yaw Amponsah

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