Ghana’s Underdevelopment: A Mirror Held Up to Society

The question on everyone’s lips remains: Who is to blame for Ghana’s underdevelopment? We point fingers with ease, yet few of us pause to accept responsibility.

The irony is striking. We know the solutions to our challenges, but we refuse to confront our own role in implementing them. Instead, we shift blame to those who came before us, asking what they should have done differently. Perhaps the more urgent question is: Who is doing things right in Ghana today?

In the 1980s, during the PNDC era, roads endured for 30 years or more. What has changed under our democratic dispensation? Who is behind the shoddy work? Who are the financiers, consultants, engineers, and ministers who sign off on substandard projects?

Public buildings now deteriorate before they are even handed over. This stands in sharp contrast to developed nations, where value for money is non-negotiable. Here, roads crumble before completion. Nepotism thrives, with jobs awarded based on connections rather than competence. But who are the nepotists? Our political leaders? Our religious leaders? Or is it all of us?

Land sellers allocate plots without space for social amenities or proper road networks, creating chaos that future generations must inherit. Teachers are not teaching. Health workers are not caring. Farmers are overusing chemicals, and palm oil is artificially coloured. Our produce is rejected abroad—yet who is responsible?

Are politicians taking 10% kickbacks from contractors, compromising quality? Transport operators abandon passengers before their destinations. Traders choke our streets with their wares. Artisans deliver poor workmanship. District Assemblies fail to enforce their mandates. Galamsey continues unchecked, polluting our rivers and destroying our environment. Traffic rules are ignored.

Are MPs using their Common Fund as intended? Are workers paying the taxes they owe?

The uncomfortable truth is that we are all complicit.

Our attitude toward work, time, and public resources is lax. We report late, leave early, and use working hours for personal errands. We set unrealistic timelines and still start late. We waste time—collectively and consistently.

These behaviours are not isolated. They are the very roots of our underdevelopment. And the perpetrators are not mysterious outsiders. They are us—the Ghanaian people.

So, who is to blame?
The mirror provides the answer. It reflects our collective image. It is time for honest introspection—and meaningful change.