Where is our patriotism?

The absence of nationalism among Ghanaians in recent times have assumed alarming rate as unpatriotic attitudes are exhibited by all class of the citizenry.

There is a saying in the local Akan adage in Ghana that nobody uses his or her left hand in direction to his or her forefather's land which means no one dishonors his origin or nation.

This belief has been the culture of Ghanaians throughout the history driving the unison in which we approached issues.

However, I have observed Just as many would do that gradually Ghanaians are no more taking interest in the volunteerism and patriotism which made people consciously worked for the attainment of independence even with their blood.

This attitude is no more the interest of Ghanaians, For instance the call and the involvement of the president of the republic of Ghana to voluntarily engage in a monthly clean up exercise still haven't received the needed attention.

Hitherto People would have participated in such a worthy exercise without an excuse that some people are paid to discharge such duty.

In fact the attitude of Ghanaians towards the nation and its symbols in recent times desire urgent attention from the state authority to help inculcate right attitude among Ghanaians.

Presently nationalism, volunteerism, and patriotism have increasingly diminished from Ghana's culture.

This indicts that the African understanding of individual rights as best expressed in group rights which our forefathers lived with is paving way for a foreign culture. If that is so then we must quickly do something about it because as people with one vision and common aspiration none should be counted out when duty calls.

What we have failed to understand in in copying this cultures that has reinforced our reason to fight for ourselves without the state interest first is that those whom we copy put their nations first though they believe in individual rights. Why then are we not putting Ghana first?

Putting nation first alone was a motivation for Uruguayan foot baller Luis Suarez to use his hand to prevent a Ghanaian goal silencing the whole nation and putting a smile in the faces of his countrymen.

By that act of sacrifice, patriotism and ,spirit of nationalism by a single national of Uruguay who placed nations interest first the about 26 million Ghanaians had our dream of getting to the top most position in the world of soccer remains a bitter reminiscence till today.

In Ghana's case four years after Suarez show of patriotism to his nation, in 2014 world cup in Brazil the black stars team made their intentions clear that they don't wear the Ghanaian jersey for pride or the love of the nations but for financial reward.

They should have play their hearts out even without a promise from government to give them sums of United States dollars in cash on their return if they were patriotic just as squares did without a signed deal in 2010 where he volunteered to send them home.

Anyway They wouldn't have insisted such dollars be transported to Brazil and shared amongst them before they played the next match bringing the name of the nation in to disrupt if someone had given them reason that their duty as a citizen to represent or defend the name of Ghana in dignity at all times.

anyway it's not only the black starts that have disappointed Ghana in terms patriotism one time or the other teachers, doctors, and other workers union continues to put their interest first before the nations in demand for their emoluments despite their in ability to make school children and elderly people recite the national pledge, sing the national anthem nor identified the coat of arms of Ghana.

Today a Ghanaian could easily describe 50 states represented by stars of the American flag and give vivid analysis on the British queens invitation to Mr. Bin to the number 10 Downing street in Old Kent road in London but cannot tell why many states institutions such as schools, security agencies ports refuse to hoist the Ghana flag.

It saddens me also when I see most Ghanaians poor, rich, middle class, village dwellers as well as the town and city residents' hosting other countries flags instead of that of Ghana.

It is from this premise that i express grave concern and deep sorrow in finding out why Ghanaians attitude to the nation has changed to the worse despite the fact that our forefathers toil and won this country for us.

I think the Perception that Ghanaian leaders are not ready to solve the numerous problems of the citizens after voting for them contributes to the peoples resolve to work for themselves.

Ghanaians Love for foreign culture as projected by both local and foreign media has been the other of the day making people to copy anything foreign as the best.

This attitude definitely can't help nation building and growth of the economy so therefore if we are serious as a nation to develop let's begin with the Orientation of Ghanaians minds.

To change the wrong Perception about the leadership of Ghana for us to adopt right attitude is a one step in bringing back the spirit of nationalism Ghana needs for development.

That notwithstanding Leadership must also live by example that is by demonstrating high sense of nationalism by first addressing issues devoid of party politics.

Let us also be reminded that nobody will help inculcate Ghanaian values in its people therefore Government who control all the numerous resources available for the nation's development must add orientation and education of Ghanaians for its people from the grassroots to those in ties on the values and the ideal of Ghana.

I insist no governments should think without the indigenes might the state will develop with foreign support because the evidence of nationalism for development could be seen in the American and French revolutions where the people united to demand their right to the extent that women were given the duty to instill in their children the values of those states.

Again When the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia were annexed by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II, their new leaders brought not only collectivization but

Historians move beyond the documentation of Soviet-era repressions and to analyse critically the processes by which those repressions were implemented and were allowed to occur.

However, in Ghana, I believe that little or no research has been undertaken on how colonisation and its imposition of other land's culture have affected the development of these nations else we would have maintained the orientation ministry that was established some time past.

As a country we must also change our political communication from us versus them to ours so people will learn how to put nation first before any person since the state comes first before any individual aspiration could be realised.

Now the system as we have it has turned Ghanaians against Ghanaians' at least in contest of ideas blinding us from focusing on national development plan to overcome the consequences of the social evil killing our national development.

The time is now for as to believe in Ghana as citizens knowing the potential and resources available to our development.

Let's forget about the past and rally behind our leadership with a renewed spirit and confidence as a nation in resolve that we can only do it in unisons as country without depending on any country.

If the problem of nationalism is addressed well by authorities Ghana flag once again could be hosted in people's cars, offices homes schools and hospitals instead of that of our colonial masters and their allies'.

David Fianko-Okyere

University of Education

Winneba