Stop playing the blame game: NDC and NPP are not the only cause of Ghana's problems. We are all a part of it.

Ghana, sometimes referred to as the Gateway to Africa, is a model for African democracies, especially in West Africa. Due to a severe financial crisis, high unemployment rate, and a stalling economy, it is no longer West Africa's economic model. Investigations shows that over 95 percent of the population attributes these issues to political leaders. Nevertheless, each and every one of us contributes to the problem. The basis of my statement is derived from the following considerations.

Dishonesty has permeated the social fiber of every Ghanaian society. Individuals in leadership positions consistently seek to use their positions for economic benefit. Voters succumb to bribery and cast their votes for inept candidates during elections. Upon arriving in Ghana's parliament, individuals of this nature have challenges in contributing during discussions that influence the nation's trajectory. In addition, these elected officials use illicit methods to recover the funds they invested in their campaigns.

Agriculture underpins most developed nations' economies. Unfortunately, Ghanaian schools do not aggressively promote agriculture. As punishment, students must weed a portion of the school grounds, which associates farming with discipline. This punitive measure makes students dislike agriculture, so they choose professional careers over agricultural activities that provide essential resources for the country's few industries.

Absenteeism and tardiness among workers contribute to the country's lack of progress. Most workers often miss work with flimsy excuses. Others arrive late to work only to play the lottery, or undertake personal business. Some individuals engage in religious practices, such as prayer and studying religious scriptures during working hours. Such workers consider their supervisors the Devil when they scold them. Regrettably, these individuals are the first to visit the bank to collect their pay at the end of the month.

The younger generation has grown too focused on greed and malice, employing unethical methods to amass wealth. They demonstrate indifference towards causing harm to anyone who attempts to assist them or participates in deceit towards their parents and guardians. An example is my nephew, the manager of my Pig Farm, who sold 54 piglets and retained the cash for personal benefit. After evicting him from my residence and a replacement hired, he came to beg for a second chance, asserting that he had been duped by the Devil. Such individuals will attribute their difficulties in finding employment to politicians. Another example is the case in which a young guy killed his employer in Kumasi recently ostensibly to take her properties and be rich overnight (Adomonline.com, September 15, 2023).

Ghana's excessive reverence for older adults and other customs hinder administration and advancement. The tradition of too much respect for the elderly significantly affects power and authority within families and groups, and religious organizations' involvement in business activities restricts people's freedom of expression due to power imbalance and subordination. This slows the country's growth since people are afraid to speak up about local injustices.

When development projects face unexpected challenges, project initiators sometimes seek the assistance of pastors and other religious leaders to offer prayers to traditional gods and ancestors to secure the project's success. In some cases, before commencing a development project, pastors and orthodox priests/priestesses are consulted to perform religious rituals and give petitions to specific deities. Project managers sometimes have to compensate traditional priests for acquiring sacrifice goods to appease gods. Some traditional chiefs accept financial compensation from developers before granting permission for projects in their districts since they safeguard ancestral lands for future generations. Developers who cannot handle this situation may depart without completing the desired project. When such occurrences arise, many blame the governing body affiliated with the prevailing political party.

I agree with those who blame political parties for the nation's ills because they value cronyism, nepotism, and favoritism above judgment. In Ghana, certain individuals are appointed to positions of authority in State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) as a form of reward for their involvement in political party activities. These activities may include being serial callers to the party, providing catering services for party delegates, offering accommodations to party leaders during their visits to different regions or constituencies for political events or elections. Most of these appointees often prove ineffective in their roles due to their lack of qualifications to manage governmental organizations. There are several additional issues, but these are the significant ones that need attention.

Dr. Kwame Aduhene-Kwarteng (Castro).