Beyond the Joint Grief: Building a United and Resilient Nation by Michael A. Sarfo-Kantanka

It has now become the most convenient answer which I so agree with, that our nation is underdeveloped in so many ways because of gross failure in leadership. Yet for one with active conscience to seek and advance good for Ghana and humanity at large, I must confess events within the country over the past few months, get me wondering why our nation does not seem to yet come to terms in unison, on who and what has bewitched us. Yes! If we so easily get united and divided over certain elements of our existence, it troubles me that we all are unable to make the all important admissions and concessions and compromises, to chart a single path to our shared aspirations. But certainly, I may be asking too much in my innocent pursuit of development and appreciation of same by and for all reasonable people. It is as if every pursuit whether good or bad, must face a just recompense of opposition! This ought not be so! But that is the way it is! Maybe part of the ruins we humans have to deal with, of the Tower of Babel brought down; humanity just cannot be united in a single language even for our most pressing shared need! It is enigmatic!

I can say Ghana, like many nations forged with people from different ancestry, is a complex fabric of unity and division, intricately woven together by shared aspirations and occasionally frayed, by certain social constructs that breed toxicity. To understand this fabric, one must look beyond the surface of politics and culture and delve into the philosophical underpinnings of what holds us together and what pulls us apart. Only then can the light be shone on the elements that must be guarded with care if we are to build a society where harmony thrives above discord in our sojourning.

The story of Ghana’s unity begins with a sense of shared destiny. The collective memory of colonialism and the liberation struggle from the United Gold Coast Convention to the eventual attainment of Independence by Dr Kwame Nkrumah; planted deep within the Ghanaian consciousness, the conviction that our fates are bound together. Symbols of nationhood such as the Flag, the Coat of Arms, the National Anthem, and the March for Independence remind us that beyond our ethnic and regional differences, we are heirs of one story. I still have fond memories from childhood TV scenes of the label; "One people, One nation, One Destiny" on the canoes and the old Bedford Trucks casually called "Boneshakers," or "Aroglass," used in public transport in the Gold Coast era! The beating of drums during festivals, the unison in singing patriotic songs, and the cultural pride in wearing Kente and Batakari especially when we find ourselves abroad, all reaffirm this shared identity. "May God bless this fine Thursday, when all Ghanaians will go gay, Miss Elizabeth we love you, Akwaaba, Awaawaa atuu!" This line should definitely resonate with every Ghanaian as we cast our minds back to that nostalgic tune composed to welcome the late Queen Elizabeth of England, when she visited Ghana. That feeling and very aura around such memories bind us beyond our wildest imaginations as a people!

A second pillar of our unity is Religious coexistence. Despite differing doctrines, Christians and Muslims often share spaces of friendship and family. It is not unusual to find households where both faiths coexist peacefully, or to see leaders of both religions exchange greetings and take turns to join celebrations throughout the year during Christmas and Eid. I still remember how the Alhaji friends of my parents would take turns to deliver fresh beef and various meals to us during the Muslim "Sala" celebrations. This is now on the decline because the struggle probably is real for our Muslim colleagues we are growing old with. These guys now kill the cow and ram and cook and eat alone and so cannot have enough impetus to demand our chicken during Christmas! Lol! Added to this, it is evident that traditional African spirituality grounds communities with a reverence for ancestors and communal rites, reinforcing the idea that life is lived not only for oneself but for the entire community. Hence, Ghanaians have been growing generally as a conservative people.

Another bond or I should say avenue for bonding, is found in various elements of culture and Pan-African pride. Ghana’s role in Pan-Africanism, evident in being home to freedom fighters and in modern initiatives like the Year of Return; an opportunity for Global African and Black Renaissance; igniting pride not only in being Ghanaian but in being Black, with a place like Ghana to call home. This has seen lots of people from the Caribbeans, Americas, etc, relocate to Ghana comfortably. This remains a clear highlight of our much coveted warm hospitality as a people. We can also consider our Highlife and Hiplife music, the wisdom of proverbs, the Adinkra symbols like "Gye Nyame" and the joyous rhythm of traditional drums which echo a cultural heritage that transcends tribe and creed.

Even in the political realm where most of the contemporary tensions are brewed, there is a form of unity. Ghana’s democratic resilience has been tested over the years, yet the commitment to constitutional rule and peaceful transitions of power remains strong. The world often points to Ghana’s peaceful elections in 2000 and 2016 as proof that, despite heated contests, Ghanaians share a collective belief in Stability, Peace and Democracy. The majority of Ghanaians just cannot stand blood shed and frankly, do not see any reason to go into civil wars over what we simplistically deem "a job for somebody's father!" Especially when we are able to reason out the fact that children of these Presidential aspirants, will never be seen anywhere near violent deeds. This rhetoric often said as a joke, is so potent it is often employed to neutralize thoughts of violence associated with political exercises.

Yet, unity is not the whole story. There are real fissures that divide and sometimes poison the social atmosphere. Ethnic and tribal loyalties often resurface, sometimes subtly, other times in uncontrollable violence. The notion of "indigenes" and "settlers" still fuels land disputes like we have in the Mamprusi-Kusasi crisis in Bawku. Tribal bigotry is so pervasive our politics is often conducted through an ethnic lens. Even with intermarriages, a rise in cosmopolitan settlements and socioeconomic integrations, the question of “who belongs where” continues to haunt our national consciousness.

Even more glaring is the situation of political polarization. The entrenched rivalry between NDC and NPP has deepened into a zero-sum contest where one side’s victory is seen as the other side’s exclusion. The winner-takes-all politics of this duopoly means ordinary citizens continue to feel opportunities are locked behind partisan doors. Thriving businesses and business opportunities can only be found within the corridors of power whether from the NPP or the NDC. This partisanship breeds resentment, suspicion, and unnecessary hostility among people who otherwise share the same markets, schools, churches and mosques! A tragedy the country has had to deal with for the last 33 years!

Religion, while often unifying, also continues to divide our fold. Extremism, doctrinal intolerance, and the rise of prosperity gospel movements have often widened mistrust. Even within the church, you would realize this sharp contrast between the fat shepherds and the ordinary sheep! This ought not be so! They use doctrines like loyalty to catch human anointings to create a glass ceiling between various groups under the same roof. Outside of the church too, Ghana suffers conflicts between traditionalists and Christians, such as disputes over observing traditional statutes like no noise especially from churches who cannot function properly without Praise and Worship which often call for drumming, on Ga lands while the Ga Traditionalists perform their annual rites.

Another silent canker remains economic inequality which erodes our gains as a country in so many ways. The gulf between the wealthy elite and the rural poor is no longer just about income but one that has to do with access to dignity, respect, and recognition. Our Politics of the day automatically makes the ruling class; especially favorites of the sitting President, full custodians or the wherewithal for socioeconomic development. Unfortunately incompetence, selfishness, wickedness, genuine cluelessness and their accompanying human errors continue to widen the inequality gap in the country.

While some struggle for clean water to drink, others demand clean water for their swimming pool delight. I remember while in the office of the State's water distribution manager years ago when a call came from the Presidency for water to be dispatched urgently to the home of a former first lady, because she had no water in her swimming pool! This was at a time the country faced serious water distribution issues that had caused shortage all over Accra. Households needed water for sustenance, others commanded it for pleasure! This is a blot in our human development pursuit, I must say. Accusations and manifest instances of corruption and elitism in politics and business, create a sense that fairness is an illusion. Efforts by these political actors with the wherewithal to turn situations around; to bridge the inequality gap remain pseudo and mere political patronage of the poor for votes!

Generational divides also tug at the fabric of unity. The youth, burdened by unemployment and often impatient to see change, clash with elders who hold firmly to traditional hierarchies. This is even when these hierarchical dispositions have proved irrelevant to their cause and plight. Occasionally, you would find some very sincere older folks, take responsibility for the nation's impoverishment. There are also questions of modern identity, that fuel debates on human rights and freedoms which further deepen the generational rift. Even with technological advancement and globalisation, it takes real turbulent revolts, to see the old order change to yield place to the new.

Unfortunately, a lot of older people feel so insecure they cannot begin to hand over opportunities for younger ones to shine. That remains one major reason the country lags behind its compatriots who have fully embraced youthful leadership, in development. But that is only one side of the issue. The younger people too are often unyielding to mentorship and real communion with their seniors often because we get stuck in our own ways which lacks the enduring virtues of old. The age of social media and attachments to electronic devices continue to destroy our social fabric. Most young people would rather resort to digital platforms for inspiration rather than speak with an elderly person who has survived many things! This may be sadly due to contempt for older people fueled by reasons we've looked at.

Finally, new media and misinformation have served as a catalyst for division here in Ghana. An unbridled proliferation of partisan TV and radio stations, sensationalist reporting, and toxic social media debates fuel more heat than light. Instead of fostering dialogue, media houses are now known for amplifying suspicion and hostility. Political actors have lost their sense of decorum and humanity in their quest for power for parochial reasons and hence, would stop at nothing, spewing all manner of hate and polarized narratives on air. Members of their parties cheer them on! And that is how we have raised young people who would sit behind cameras daily trending with insults and immoral deeds!

In all of these, very disturbing events the year 2025 has come with, prove Ghana and Ghanaians, have real glimpses of deeper unity in times of loss. This, even though an element of our culture, requires further probing as its effects on the entire country is unmatched. Perhaps, one of the reasons I put together this piece is that it has become evidently clear that the nation’s heart beats as one only when tragedy strikes!

I will start with Sir Charles Kwadwo Fosu! The Prophet! The Wise Master Brewer! The Ultimate Minstrel for my adult life and that of many who could hear and relate with his songs globally! His death changed the national mood immensely! It sent shock waves through our innermost being as a people! There has been genuine national mourning for Daddy Lumba! The unprecedented number of mourners at the Vigil in Accra remains a testament to his transcendental role and weight he carried in our Ghanaian society! It will be impossible to find a replacement for such a legend! Let me resist the urge to turn this into yet another tribute. I have written extensively about him in a tribute you can read with the following link - https://wp.me/paC2Zm-91

Another instance is the death of Dada KD, a beloved musician whose songs like "Somu Gye, Fathia Fata Nkrumah, etc," touched many, drew and continues to draw tears across all divides. We could also consider the national shock for the loss of 15 young members of the Obogu Saviour Church in a car accident. A situation that enveloped communities across Ghana and abroad, in shared grief.

Another sad occurrence has been the Z9 plane crash that claimed the lives of eight state officials reminding us again that no one is insulated from life’s fragility. These moments which created a heavy national mood of mourning and empathy; further proves that when stripped of politics, status, or ethnicity, Ghanaians share the same humanity! We all yield to affection! None is insulated from feeling pain and needing relief for same! Hence this is something we cannot overlook. "Everyone needs compassion, a love that's never failing, let mercies fall on me! Everyone needs forgiveness, the Kindness of a Savior, the Hope of Nations!"

These are lines from Mighty to Save, a beautiful evangelistic song by Hillsongs, worthy of consideration! If indeed nobody, no matter their attainment of all carnal dreams, can respond to such tragedy, then all hope is not lost! It forms the real impetus to ask for the all needed consensus on the definition of what is Good for Ghana and every single human being living here!

However, we can be guided by scriptures to shine some light on the roots of divisions in the Ghanaian social fabric. The scriptures reveal these moments of unity identified are fleeting, as you would realize they so quickly get overshadowed by the return of division. It means there is something innate that only the lens of scripture can bring to light. As you may know, nothing is hidden under the lens of the word of God. It shines in the darkest of human nature and it is quick and powerful as it cuts through the dividing asunder of bone and marrow effortlessly.

The scripture in James 4:1 asks, “From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” This profound question reveals the truth that divisions and disputes often emanate from unbridled parochial desires. When men perpetrate self-centered deeds that rob others of their fair share of honor, respect, or public resources, the social knit gets torn. The greed that drives corruption, the strive for dominance that fuels political decisions, and the pride that sustains ethnic superiority are all deeply rooted in lusts and unsettled matters within a person. Hence the need to be mindful of our thoughts and what feelings we entertain. What starts as a simple thought could fuel corruption that robs an entire country of public good.

If Ghana will harness her unity, deliberate choices must be made especially by those with the wherewithal to fix things. We must begin to invest in human capacity and chiefly mental health initiatives! This means getting rid of charlatans who prey on the ignorance and innocence of others for private gains. There is nothing like a society with a people of sound mind! Indeed the scripture says God has given us a Spirit of Power, of Love and of a SOUND MIND. All initiatives being private or public, must factor in these essential indicators!

Secondly, Civic education and nationalism must be reaffirmed above tribal or partisan politics, to ensure the identity of being Ghanaian outweighs the more narrow labels and divisive tags.

We have to be intentional and set out clear goals for agencies to implement under strict monitoring. Inter-ethnic dialogue, games and social initiatives should be a great way to go!

While at it, let us ensure no single person faces deprivation of whatever opportunities and needs they require to live a quality life. Poverty must be confronted not merely with handouts but through investments in education, healthcare, and job creation, giving people the tools to live dignified lives. A fair distribution of development must be pursued with sincerity, ensuring that no community feels abandoned.

Furthermore, Media literacy must be encouraged and enforced so citizens can discern truth from propaganda. We need to sanitize our airwaves and ensure all new media channels especially, operate under strict adherence to an agreed and standardized social order.

Young people must be given platforms where their voices matter and where tradition adapts to full integration, embracing their aspirations and skills.

To conclude, the philosophy of “One Nation, One People, One Destiny” should not just remain a slogan. It is a vision that demands that Ghanaians rise above the vain social constructs that divide and cultivate the virtues that unite us. Indeed, we must recognize that we cannot exist without paying the more earnest heed to Enduring Virtues! We cannot make virtues matter only when our people die or some tragedy strikes! What kind of society is that? That is itself, a tragedy! Virtues must permeate every aspect of our existence as a people; whether good times or bad times! Leaders must be seen to rally people and citizens not just for mourning, but for good times and for opportunities! For only then can the nation become a resilient community, strengthened not just in moments of tragedy but in the ordinary rhythms of daily life.

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