All hands on deck to build a prosperous nation

Today marks another milestone in our country’s history, It is our country’s 60th independence anniversary. Ghana, at 60, indeed calls for a reflection on the path travelled so far in order to identify where we went wrong and where corrections must be made.

We should also be able to identify our strengths and forge a plan towards multiplying them in ways that will make all Ghanaians reap more benefits for national progress and development.

This year Ghana can re-trace its history in a chequered format that depicts the mix of military interregnum and the constitutional arrangements that colour our political journey.

Lessons learnt over the years resulted in the popular efforts that went to work, giving birth to the Fourth Republic.

The Fourth Republic has found stability in the continued expression of the will of the people in making democratic choices that have led to changes in government.

As a nation, we need to pat ourselves on the back for our collective efforts that have brought us this far.

That notwithstanding, there are lessons that we have learnt that should guide us in the quest to achieve sustainable development, progress and prosperity.

One of such topical lessons is the level of infrastructural gap that exists in various parts of the country, leading to differentials in growth and prosperity, to the advantage of mostly the urban rich.

The Daily Graphic believes that the wealth of the nation should be evenly distributed to all, regardless of any barriers.

Our democratic credentials notwithstanding, reports of people taking over state properties and acts of vandalism against perceived political opponents during transitional periods constitute a clear and present danger to our democratic set-up.

We must take the appropriate steps, going forward, to ensure that our democratic dispensation is not derailed at the expense of divisive politics.

But the most important lesson for all of us, as Ghanaians, the Daily Graphic believes, is to embrace every change in our political administration as an opportunity to offer our best for national cohesion and development. That way we can be sure of continuity in change.

We also think that when elections are held and a winner is declared, the governance direction of the winner becomes the thrust for all dealings of state and all Ghanaians must offer the needed support to the new leader to being about progress.

We must put aside our party colours after elections and together strive to make Ghana better.

We must not only pay lip service to “through the blood and toil of our fathers…” but also make the conscious effort to build the nation.

That way, posterity will sing our praise four decades from now when Ghana attains a century.