Ghana at 59; what are our expectations going to be 60?

Ghana, referred to as the Black Star of Africa, has come a long way and now inches close to the end of a working era called the ‘retirement age’.

If Ghana were to be a person, it should at this point be prepared to take a heavy break from the toils and sweats of the past years.

That persona of Ghana should be prepared to enjoy the fruits of all the labour it has endured over the youthful years. Ghana ought to be prepared for a period of rest.

But can the country take a rest? If it has to, what kind of rest would it be taking? Rest from what?

Realistically, Ghana, if it were human, would be retiring next year, but how will such a retirement take place when a whole lot of developmental issues remain outstanding?

Indiscipline stands tall in the numbering of the issues that confront our nation.

One hallmark that helped our country to accelerate the pace of development was discipline, which was evident in the way teachers in the days would even deal strictly with children who were late to school.

This created some level of consciousness regarding the timeliness of events and the need to stay ahead of scheduled plans.

Besides, it also imbued children with a sense of purpose and an undiluted sense of patriotism for the national cause.

But today, the flame of national passion has died and even though the President lighted the symbolic flame on March 6 to symbolise that passion that spearheaded national development, that symbolic gesture was probably a futile attempt to re-ignite a passion that no longer exists.

The focus on the national interest in all dealings has given place to selfish, personal, sectorial and political considerations that have placed what used to be national, and for the betterment of all, in grave danger.

Presently, it has become difficult for national issues to be considered without the use of the political lens.

Even issues that border on survival have been so politicised that ordinary persons who do not flow with the political aura find it hard accepting issues that may border on their own dealings and survival.

The Daily Graphic believes that if Ghana were to take its place as a leader within the comity of nations, then there is the need to crack the whip when it matters most.

Quite often, people have committed blunders that should have been punished either through the justice system or by those who matter.

But for most of the time, those who should take such actions turn a blind eye to these blunders and therefore those deserving punishment go unpunished.

When this happens, innocent ones who should have taken a cue from the administration of justice on the wrongdoers think they can also do same or worse and get away with it.

The nation cannot reach its desired end if the culture of impunity, political considerations, indiscipline and lack of respect for national values are treated in a contemptible manner.

It is not enough to pray and wish the best for Ghana but 59 years after our independence, we should be engaged in acts that would propel us forward rather than those that draw us back.