Sixty–Nine Years of Independence: Time to Assert Our Sovereignty

Sixty–nine years is far too long for Ghana to still struggle to assert itself as a fully fledged independent state. As a nation, we must develop the courage to rebuff threats from foreign companies that habitually use the fear of job losses to pressure governments.

They understand that unemployment is a major concern for any administration, and they exploit this vulnerability to protect their interests.

The question we must ask is: when will the descendants of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) truly recognize that Ghana is a sovereign state capable of managing its own affairs? We are no longer under the exploitative control of foreign interests.

History reminds us that the forebears of the NPP were hesitant about immediate independence, and unfortunately it sometimes appears that some of their descendants remain trapped in that pre-independence mindset. The aggressive manner in which they defend the interests of foreign entities over national interests is deeply troubling.

Our forebears endured great cruelty and atrocities under colonial rule. It is therefore disheartening that some Ghanaians appear comfortable aligning themselves with the very foreign interests that historically hindered our nation’s progress after independence. Rather than showing remorse and prioritizing the collective welfare of Ghanaians, some have become unofficial lobbyists for foreign corporations.

Whenever a government attempts to protect citizens from foreign exploitation, they position themselves in defence of foreign interest. The recent energy deployed to frustrate the efforts of the Minister for Communications, Samuel Nartey George, particularly regarding the telecommunications and DStv pricing controversy, is a clear example.

Any patriotic citizen should support efforts to ensure that Ghana receives fair value and higher royalties from companies operating within our borders.

After sixty–nine years of independence, we must finally wean ourselves from excessive dependence on foreign control. Each time a government attempts to review or renegotiate unproductive agreements with multinational companies, we hear the familiar threat of job losses.

Unfortunately, there are always local voices ready to amplify those threats and defend foreign interests ahead of Ghana’s.

For decades, we have welcomed foreign investors with open arms. Yet we must honestly ask: what substantial and sustainable benefits have we gained? In many cases, foreign companies operate with little regard for our laws, subject workers to unfair conditions, and enjoy generous tax exemptions that local companies are often denied.

It is time for Ghana to look inward and harness its own capabilities to solve its problems. So-called development partners frequently prioritize the exploitation of our resources over genuine partnership.

The COVID-19 pandemic offered a painful lesson. Many wealthy nations and development partners refused to make vaccines available to Africa until their own populations had been fully vaccinated. Only when they had surplus doses when they begin exporting them to African countries.

That experience should have been a wake-up call about the realities of global interests.

Current tensions in the Gulf region present another reminder of how global instability can affect us.

Instead of remaining passive, Africa should seize such moments as opportunities to strategically position itself economically and strengthen internal capacity to withstand future global disruptions.

After sixty–nine years of independence, the time has come for Ghana to fully assert its sovereignty, protect its resources, and prioritize the interests of its people above all other interest.

Mike kalley
Sociopolitical Analyst.

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