Dr. Ishmael Dodoo Writes: Propelling Ghana Beyond Promises

The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked to the total liberation of the Republic… emphasis mine.

 At the dawn of independence in 1957, the Republic was touted as one of peace, tranquility, riches, and prosperity. The Ghanaian was highly revered internationally. Indeed, the occasion at the Black Stars Square attracted notable individuals across the world, some of whom command great heights in geopolitics, stardom (celebrity), society, technology, and economics.

It is very notable to have the high-powered celebrity of the US—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose presence endorsed the occasion manifesting his dream—Africans will be respected by global partners as capable of managing their own affairs and possess the prowess, morality, and sense of obligation to create wealth and fortunes for their people. In essence, the black star of Africa, the Republic of Ghana, spoke for all Africans. But today, the Republic, so well cherished as a pacesetter, has become a proverb.

To the extent that the Republic is unable to: feed itself, fend for itself, manage itself, manage its wealth, manage her people, and manage all it possesses with efficiency and effectiveness. Why are we where we are today? Why have we become frustrated people? Why have we become a people who seem to have lost their way? And are you tending to destroy the fortunes of her future generation? The answers are not easy. Solutions are not simple. But there is an underlying core reason: disdain for vision and prioritization of empty promises.

As though the shepherd has neglected her sheepfold, we import 90% of all we eat and wear, including staples and basic dependencies. We have neglected our hospitals to the extent that sick and pregnant mothers give birth on benches. We have a deficit of 1.8 million houses to give everyone a decent place to lay their heads. We have over 6 million youth jobless or in jobs without a secure future. We borrow to pay salaries. And we govern the country with looters, corruption, arrogance, pride, and foolishness of heart, barring the commonsense objective of securing the future of our citizens, let alone meeting their basic needs and aspirations.

 Where can we go from here? How can we turn the curve to reset the Republic toward a glorious future? A future with resolute vision, discipline, tact, leadership, astuteness, and common sense. I offer the following thoughts, especially in the wake of the imminent elections scheduled for December 2024:.

Firstly, shirk empty promises. Seek vision. The Republic needs vision. Thus, we need to inspire our vision towards illuminating our paths to understand where we are today in order to push forward towards where we should be heading.

 In terms of direction, I propose that we inspire our vision with some commonsense policies, such as, for example, no more giving births on benches; making our hospitals work for the people. Furnish all hospitals and community health centers with the capacity to heal the sick and offer quality and affordable services to citizens.

 We should grow what we eat and eat what we grow. Reinforce value-chain agriculture businesses. Provide capital and modern infrastructure to attract the 15 million youth towards agribusiness. This means commitment to a vision of no more imports of rice, wheat, maize, tuo zafi, akple, fufuo, and kenkey. We must absolutely stop importing staples, including fisheries!!!

 In addition, frame a vision for the Republic, providing high-quality access to basic services to all citizens—water, health, sanitation, education, and energy.

Secondly, invest in the human capital of the Republic. Hence, our educational system must make common sense. It must churn out individuals with critical thinking skills, discipline, and civilization, possessing the capacity to manipulate the factors of our environment to create solutions by way of patents, inventions, philosophy, and ideas that transform our societies. This requires that our educators be the best in our societies, such that any teacher in our classrooms at our institutions is the best in the subject area of their teaching. And have demonstrated this in our societies. For lack of better illustration, we don’t let teachers who made F grades in mathematics teach our children mathematics, irrespective of what level they are supposed to teach, whether primary school or not.

Linked to our human capital development is the positioning of our Republic to play an instrumental role in Africa and global civilization. We need to engage in international affairs differently and smartly. With over $3 trillion in the in the market economy of West Africa alone, the Republic of Ghana must not shortchange itself by not expanding its fortunes with good access to regional economic prospects. This means we need to have a new vision for our strategic resources—gold, diamond, platinum, cobalt, copper, lithium, arable land, and agriculture.

We need every community to have a local school of education engaging in the creation of talents to build skills to engage the value chain of these strategic resources by way of skills or occupation. In this regard, it is important to establish TVET demonstration centers in every district assembly. We need more artisans who can use their hands to manipulate their environment. We need to refine our plumbing, carpentry, electrical wiring, construction, and welding skills. Let’s do this by establishing training centers across all district assemblies.

 We need to invest in individuals with witty inventions. This vision should inform our digitization policy. To the extent that we need to have AI teaching and coding centers established in all communities to cater to primary and secondary schools. Our universities must be fit for purpose. Every graduate must be trained to be entrepreneurial in their sphere of occupational choice. There is no more training in theories without practice. And all graduates must be linked to the industrialization policy of the Republic.

 Ultimately, these ideas, by way of visions set out, would require effective leadership to implement them. Citizens must not invest in any politician who has not shown demonstrable capacity to work for results for their communities. In essence, questions must be asked of parliamentarians who have yet to deliver to their people and solve their basic needs in spite of 10 years plus in parliament. New aspirants must be interrogated about their visions. Citizens must absolutely stop selling their birth rights for peanuts. No amount of money can buy peace and prosperity for citizens. Learn from the past to pave the way for your future.

Finally, let’s build a republic where leaders lead with selflessness and integrity. To the extent that we should ask every political aspirant in the 2024 elections, what is your vision for solving the problems of your community? How have you done this before? How can we trust you? How can we hold you accountable for your pledge of commitment? No more promises.

 The Republic of Ghana needs visionary leaders to lead it. Let’s rally to make this happen. Long live Ghana! Selah.