Catalyst For Developing Ghana – Grow Ideas Into Realities

Every life begins as a seed which grows rapidly and efficiently in its favorable environment. No matter the size of the seed, even if it is as small as the Mustard seed as described by the Bible, when put into its favorable environment, it grows into its full potential and finally becomes mighty.

For something to be reproductive and achieve its full potential, it involves two basic things. It must first be like a seed, thus has a potential to grow and secondly, it must be at an environment favorable to support its growth. Mostly, among the two, a seed becomes more dependent on the environment, thus the nature of its growth is mostly dependent on the kind of environment it finds itself.

This scenario is real in human development and advancement. Every major development and success in all areas of human phase started like a seed. They found their suitable environment, grew bit by bit and finally reached its potential. The advancement of technology all started as a seed, in a form of an idea. The idea fell on a suitable environment which grew to its full potential. Just name a significant tool or item or technology which did not begin as an idea. The television, the automobiles, the aircraft, the mobile phones, etc., all came to existence from a seed known as an idea which located itself in an environment suitable for its growth. No wonder John F. Kennedy highly rated idea by saying, “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. Ideas have endurance without death.”

The difference between developed country and the developing country is the nature of their environment to support the growth of ideas. Development is gravely dependent not only on ideas, but rather, the environment to support the growth of these ideas. I have come into contact with brilliant men and women in this country with great ideas but the environment they find themselves makes it difficult for their ideas to be developed into realities. Many believe that the nature of our education does not gloom people to produce the needed ideas for development. I honestly disagree with such people. The problem is not with our educational system but rather the environment we find ourselves in; it is unfavorable to support ideas. Sue Grafton once said, “Ideas are easy. It's the execution of ideas that really separates the sheep from the goats.”

Whenever the environment is conducive, favorable, I tell you the truth, the required ideas are produced irrespective of the nature of education given. Assuming the government advertise to the general public to bring up their ideas on how for example, waste menace can be solved and produce economic incentive to support the economic. I tell you, ideas would be generated and the problem would be solved once and for all. In addition, the government announces special packages or rewards for those whose ideas would lead to practical solutions to a specific problem in this country, honestly speaking, the youth would be surfing the internet to finding solutions to the problems in this country. Men would group together not to discuss irrelevant stuffs but rather meet to put their minds together to bring a formidable idea to solve problems in this country. Women would show grave concern and put off their television sets to be concerned of solving the problems in this country. Students would not go to universities to warm benches and acquire certificates but rather, eagerly working hard to include their names in the history books of this country through their ideas and researches. What can’t we do as a country? It is time government humbles itself and values the ideas of the people to support the growth and development of this country.

Jim Yong Kim once advised leaders, “No matter how good you think you are as a leader, my goodness, the people around you will have all kinds of ideas for how you can get better. So for me, the most fundamental thing about leadership is to have the humility to continue to get feedback and to try to get better - because your job is to try to help everybody else get better.” To be a leader does not mean you have a better idea than others, but rather, you have the potential to steer the desire of your people to generate ideas and the willingness to make these ideas transform into realities.

Companies, both private and public, should challenge the general public, both the educated and the uneducated, to bring out ideas to develop and solve problems. People whose ideas are chosen should be rewarded or actively be involved in the affairs of the business. District Assemblies should create avenues for the public to bring ideas to enhance the economic growth especially, in their jurisdiction. People whose ideas are selected and implement ought to be recognized, awarded and even be actively involved in the management of that venture. It is time we steer the ideas in people. It is time people gather both in public and private to generate ideas to support the economy and livelihood. There should be a great willingness and zeal on the part of leaders to bring out the ideas in their people. When people find our environment conducive to support ideas, we will create a nation full of ideas and concern for the development of this nation.

The president said that we must not be just spectators but citizens. The best way to make your people be concerned citizens is when they know that their ideas would be valued, weighted and turned into reality. We can do this as people of this country. Indeed, we are more than capable of solving our own problems. Where lies the problems of this country? Is it about Fulani herdsmen, galamsey, waste menace, the Cedi depreciation, economic challenges? All we need is to advertise for ideas from people, create institution to analyze these ideas and willingly transform the capable ideas into realities with special reward to people whose ideas successfully turned into realities. I tell you, this country will flourish like never before. Our development is within us, it is in our ideas, just create the environment for them to grow.

Jeffery Amo – Asare
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