Ghana Beyond Aid: An Attitudinal Change First

Since coming into office in 2017, President Akuffo Addo has been leading an independent struggle but this time not for political independents but true economic independence. He has declared his intention to move Ghana from an aid dependent nation to an independent one. Though its disappointing that after sixty one (61) years of political independence Ghana is yet to attain true economic freedom, but there is a saying that “better late than never”. Therefore it is important for the President to make this vision a reality.

However, This independence cannot be attain just by politicians or government policies. Attitudinal change 0n the part of every Ghanaian is pivotal if we are going to translate this dream into a reality. Our attitude towards education must change. This change must occur right from policy makers to ordinary Ghanaians. Where as many economies in the advance world are driven by technical and vocational skills, Ghanaians believed that technical and vocational education is not a place for brilliant students but unintelligent ones. Ghana beyond aid will continue to be a rhetoric until we change this perception and encourage our brilliant students to take up this course. Policy makers must also make it attractive for the students by providing adequate funding for such studies.

In addition it will be impossible for this country to gain economic independents when majority of its citizens believed that it is not their responsibility to keep a clean environment. It is believed that Ghana loses about $290 million annually to poor sanitation. Therefore if we do not change our attitude and and make the sanitation a collective responsibility then the economic independence we so much desire will forever be a mirage.

Another attitude that has been an obstacle to our development is our poor attitude towards government wok. If Ghanaians can take government work serious just like we take our private work then we are on course to making Ghana a better place. Lateness, laziness, and absenteeism must be eschewed if we are going to increase productivity and make Ghana an economic independent country. There must be reorientation of how we perceive politics and public service, our political elite must begin to see politics or public office as an avenue to offer an honourable service to the people and not an avenue to amass quick wealth. It is only when we do these that we can confidently say that we are ready to be an economically independent country.

Finally, poor maintain culture is a credibly threat to this agenda and that must be looked at. After independence in 1957 Dr. Nkrumah establish a lot of factories in a attempt to industrialised Ghana and make it a truly independent country, however due to poor maintenance culture all these factories are either collapsed or in a state of moribund. How can a Ghana beyond aid survive if it cannot maintain factories and other state assets that are vital to the economy?

I therefore wish to remind everyone that the attainment of economic independence is not the sole responsibility of the president and his appointees but a collective one that includes every Ghanaian. Ghana beyond aid is possible but only if we approach it with the right attitude.

GOD BLESS GHANA
IBRAHIM SUHUYINI