Ghanaians contribute generously to build churches while schools, hospitals remain in disrepair due to mentality that prayer alone will solve our problems — Sir Sam Jonah

Sir Sam Jonah, a renowned Ghanaian businessman has called for a shift in the mindset of Ghanaians towards development and accountability.

He emphasized how the “mindset of dependency” has contributed to the culture whereby schools and hospitals remain in disrepair while citizens contribute significantly to building churches.

“Citizens contribute generously to build churches while schools and hospitals remain in disrepair,” Sam Jonah remarked. “This mentality, that prayer alone will solve our problems, must change if we are to foster genuine development.”

The business mogul highlighted a troubling trend in Ghana, where faith is often seen as the only tool to address societal challenges.

He emphasized how many Ghanaians tend to believe that solutions to financial, health, and societal problems lie not in innovation, hard work, or mental resources, but in prayer and divine intervention.

While recognizing the importance of faith and prayers, Jonah warned against the dangers of reliance on divine intervention at the expense of critical thinking, personal responsibility, and accountability.

“This belief system keeps the majority trapped in cycles of poverty, often exploited by unscrupulous figures who promise prosperity while siphoning resources and diverting focus from constructive solutions,” he said.

Jonah further bemoaned that many Ghanaians, including the elite, continue to accept without question the idea that financial stability, health, and societal progress can be achieved through prayer alone.

“Where else will the notion be taken seriously that a strong economy, food security or the eradication of preventable disease can somehow be achieved not by the use of our brains but by praying to God and casting and binding demons?” he questioned. “And yet this absurdity gets nodded to by a large number of people, when it is delivered from pulpits in our country.”