Ghanaian Youth And Nationalism

Our dear nation Ghana has suffered the blunt of underdevelopment since our colonial ages due to several factors. However the most outstanding among these is inevitably lack of nationalism among Ghanaians (not only among the youth).

The term nationalism has been defined in many ways and from diverse sources but indeed the central idea remains unchanged. The Mariam Webster Dictionary explained it as loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interest as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups. The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English explains it as love for your country and the belief that it is better than any other country.

The main notion here is holding one’s country into high esteem at the expense of all other countries and not that alone working hard within your limit to see the condition existing forever. Nationalism was first used in the nineteenth (19th) century, at a time when a modern concept of national identity was being formed. Instilling a sense of nationalism into the youth is never achieved on a silver platter. It is however important to note that remaining nationalistic is very crucial in our day to day activities for considerably number of good reasons.

First of all, nationalism promotes national unity. National Unity basically is when all citizens of Ghana see ourselves as one people, with one destiny; but we do not put emphasis on differences in ethnicity, party affiliations, religion, believes and belongings; it is when we accept these differences, and ensure co-existence. The spirit of nationalism verily makes one put premium into every feature of the nation, particularly the feature of difference –linguistic difference, race and diverse identifiable characteristics. We have all failed one way or the other on, this regard.

Majority of us here, if not all, for example appreciate friendship and marriage with those who share the same religious faith –a Christian should marry a Christian and Muslim should do the same. People have also been denied jobs because of their backgrounds of a similar or same category which is of course these records are not detrimental or problematic. It is said without number that unity is strong but division is otherwise; what then is our interest, strength or weakness?

Sense of nationalism eradicates negative thoughts and actions citizens pose to hinder national development. Right from scratch, we get so many questionable thoughts and materialise them in so many ways and at every sector or field one finds himself or herself. These actions and inactions include greed, selfishness, jealousy, bribery, corruption, injustice, unfairness and many more.

These are the siblings of lack of nationalism. It has made some people great lairs where there has been growing unfriendliness among workers, groups and even colleagues. This causes them to steal from institutional accounts of the state and private sectors to make properties outside the country without any bit of worry or regression. That is why leaders lie to us to acquire wealth; that is why Ghanaians love to save in dollar accounts rather than in cedis; that is why public positions are virtually occupied by family members –lack of nationalism. Successive governments of Ghana have lived without this subject.

The case has been critical to the extent that even as students are given prefect positions, some try to manipulate these positions to their selfish advantages but actually not to serve the masses. In this case we have every cause to blame on our political leaders for the mess they have put us into but we do not have to forget they started like you where no sense of nationalism was created on their minds and even so ill-treated it. But I strongly believe you’ll be exception. Now our police service is known for one thing –bribe. Not all, tags on our judges are questionable, public scenes have been good grounds for embezzlement –lack of nationalism.

It is further worthwhile, ladies and gentlemen, to realise that self-reliance is derived by the state in a significant manner, as there is nationalism, even though no country has ever been completely been self-reliant. Self-reliance, according to Cambridge English Dictionary, is not needing help or support from other people. To throw more light on it, self-reliance is defined as relying on oneself or one’s own efforts and abilities rather than those exerted or supplied by other people. Lack of nationalism has led to intense mishandle of our resources including the human, let us always reflect on the meaning of the subject nationalism; loving and putting ones nation in a high esteem and considering it better than others.

Taking this into consideration, the story is the opposite now. Ghana has long ago learnt to ignore the question on “how much does the nation earns”, but are more particular about “how much do I earn”. Ghana can claim more than necessary resources but our lack of nationalism has wiped their usefulness away within a twinkle of an eye. They diminish in high quantity every day with little or no benefit.

In addition to that the Ghanaian youth (human resources) today never miss the opportunity to leave for abroad to seek for greener pastures without the least thought of coming back to serve Ghana. We have distanced ourselves from nationalism to the extent we belief nothing good is left in the country to pick. We indeed lack an essential tool for development and that is nationalism.

We’re therefore running to doorsteps of countries like china, and United States, who has not gotten half of our resources, for interventions. This is because the profits of these resources have been to individuals’ pockets –individuals who call themselves managers and directors. This has indeed made us very dependent in almost all spheres of living specification politically and economically.

More so, nationalism gives people pride in their own country to do better than all other countries in the world. To be proud about something means you put much premium into that or cherish thing that so well that you will do anything to possible to sustain it. So in the case of nationalism gives people the reason to value the nation strongly in every course instead of leaving to serve different countries for money, instead of publishing weakness and mistakes of our political leaders not only to our citizens but to foreigners, and instead of stealing public properties.

Staying proud of your country pushes you to do something to get involved in the collective process of national development. This therefore brings about internal competition and eventually among countries. This is also very essential because it has been the story of the day where all nations seek to do something extra-ordinary every day. Now there is no healthy competition within our nation because of lack of nationalism; and because of that we are not progressing, we are not competing with no other country in terms of any artificial outputs.

The sorts of completion we can boast of are those competitions to fend for ourselves –for money and power. It is expected of any good citizen to wave or show off the flag of Ghana. Many prefer rather to show off flags and stickers of the United States, Britain and Canada. They’re not proud of their country. Pride in their own country motivates the people to work harder in societies.

Again nationalism signifies the citizens’ readiness to foster national development. One thing that we must take note is that nationalism is an abstract phenomenon. Your ability to demonstrate it is the only way to be known by others. Unlike Ghana, citizens in the aforementioned countries are very nationalistic in their thoughts and in their day-to-day activities and are ever ready to serve their countries no matter how much it will cost them. For example American has it in history to be the first to land on the moon; a very great achievement in the eyes of the world. What is our achievement in the eyes of the world so far?

Who among Ghanaians is willing to be to the space with a rocket? In fact the person will tell you he doesn’t want to be a victim to horrific accidents, and in fact his time to the grave is not yet due. Yes, Ghanaians don’t want to be affected in any negative way when the greater benefit goes to the state. Even at our offices one is very careful not to exceed the number of hours he is to spend. Working overtime exceptionally happens mostly in the private institutions where there is quite a strict supervision.

We are ending our story but before that there are some peculiar questions that are actually knocking at your doors for answers, my brothers and sisters, if we really seek for Ghana’s development: Now, let us ourselves that are we willing to serve Ghana from your heart when given the chance? Are we ready to protect the image of Ghana and are we actually proud of being Ghanaian?

If our answers to these is “yes” then we on the way. Let us all come together, work hard and see Ghana among the most economically powerful countries, being a country with the least rate of corruption, racism and ethnic discrimination, a very productive country indeed in term of natural and man-made resources and a country with a valuable culture and heritage. Our hard work can to a higher extent promote national unity and greater sense of independence.

Now you should remember in every minute, in every hour and in each day, in our endeavours, including what you say that the growth and development of Ghana depends on you. You’re the future leaders of our great nation. You don’t have to be a president, a member of parliament or a minister before you can help the nation greatly. You can do that in so many ways. Among them is sponsoring brilliant but poor students, providing social amenities for some rural areas.

Better still, businesses can be put up to employ mass of job seekers; many others, if you really wish to help your nation. But before that you need certain things before you can get the opportunity to assist. First of all is acquiring education. Be more mindful to reaching the peak of good education. Learn hard and leave here with better certificates and a hope of getting to the tertiary institutions as soon as possible. Then again be mindful of your health. A saying goes that your health is your wealth. Continuously seek for health tips from experts when the need arises. Also avoid bad company, for a bad company destroys good life. You can ensure some measures like these to grab the opportunity to help Ghana.

Like I said earlier, the nation looks up to you. Never underestimate yourselves and never let anyone do, as you sit here. Always remember that you matter massively to Ghana despite the challenges you’re likely to encounter. Keep on and still keep on being hopeful, determined and focused until we see Ghana developed.

A SPEECH DELIVERED TO STUDENTS OF UNCLE RICH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, WINNEBA-GHANA BY THE ADVOCATES FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT –UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA UNDER A GENERAL THEME “CREATING A SENSE OF NATIONALISM IN GHANAIAN YOUTH; A TOOL FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.”

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