Introduction
I firmly believe in the power of hope, as the Bible says, “hope deferred makes the heart sick.” A hopeful person, even if unwell, is better off than someone healthy without hope. Hope is a transformative force that can resurrect what has fallen.
Today, I posted a distressing statistic about Ghana’s heavy importation of various commodities, amounting to billions of Ghana cedis. I added a simple message expressing optimism that one day, this trend will reverse, and Ghana will export goods, bringing in revenue. A friend responded skeptically, calling my hope wishful thinking.
I understand his perspective. In a country where politicians have repeatedly broken promises, skepticism is natural. But consider this: how did nations like Malaysia and Rwanda rise from the ashes of failure and underdevelopment?
Here are my thoughts on how Ghana can improve…
1. Everyone Has Problems
No nation was born great. Israel, one of the world’s greatest nations, emerged from a disorganized family tribe. Malaysia was in a worse state than Ghana at our independence in 1957. Rwanda rose from a horrific genocide. What challenges are we facing in Ghana that other nations haven’t overcome? If we begin sowing seeds of development today, we must recognize that we are not the first underdeveloped nation.
2. Solutions Lie at Our Disposal
Often, it takes outsiders to recognize and seize the opportunities in our country. We might be in a coma or blinded by our own perspectives. No nation builds itself relying solely on others. Yes, our forefathers were taken to build other nations, but those nations devised their strategies first. Our solutions lie within us. Imagine if we could gather 50 Ghanaian business leaders to create an entrepreneurial agenda empowering 1 million aspiring entrepreneurs. It would be revolutionary!
3. We Must Take Necessary Steps
Part of our national failure stems from having numerous plans without implementing them. We’ve had Nkrumah’s National Development Plan, Rawlings’ Vision 2020, and other well-thought-out plans. If we had been disciplined enough to follow through, we would have been far better off. Successful nations take bold steps and stop blaming political parties for their woes. It’s time we take necessary actions and reap the benefits later.
4. Individuals Can Make It in Ghana
I believe Ghana can turn around because individuals can start changing the narrative through wise choices with the nation’s welfare in mind. Imagine 100 young industrialists like McDan and 100 young media entrepreneurs like Despite. We would quickly shed the shackles of poverty, shame, and failure. We don’t need to wait for these numbers. We can learn from current successful business owners and career individuals, inspiring the youth to succeed even in tough times.
5. Never Give Up
Finally, we must never give up. Nothing is achieved by quitters. The documentary “The Men Who Built America” shows how individuals like Ford and Rockefeller faced challenges but persevered, achieving industrial breakthroughs that redefined America. Today, many aspire to go to America because some people didn’t give up. Success favors those who persist and never give up.
Conclusion
My proposition is that Ghana has numerous natural resources and a youthful population needing the right leadership to drive growth. Until then, we must each do our part. We have what it takes to build a FIRST WORLD COUNTRY called GHANA.
What am I really saying with these five simple points?
Eric Otchere writes content that inspires hope in people to seize opportunities and fulfill their destinies. Connect with him via otchereeric@gmail.com.
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