Sustaining Ghana’s true nationhood
Today marks Ghana’s 54th Republican status, the occasion on which Ghana abrogated colonial ties with the British and the British Monarch ceased to be the Head of State of Ghana.
Although the day is particularly referred to as Republic Day, it is also designated as Senior Citizens Day, in recognition of the contributions of our elders who have, through their toils and efforts, brought our country thus far.
We salute all Ghanaians who have contributed to the development of the country.
But 54 years down memory lane, the question we need to ask ourselves is whether, as a people, we have been able to successfully secure our economic independence to bring us to the status of a modern state.
In terms of democratic governance, Ghana remains the shining star and model of democracy on the continent, having successfully organised democratic elections and changed power from a ruling party to an opposition party on two separate occasions in 2000 and 2008.
On the economic front, however, the nation is going through many challenges, as we still struggle to free ourselves from the apron strings of our colonial masters and the developed world in general.
We continue to import everything, from toothpick to the most sophisticated appliances.
Sadly, this is a country endowed with both human and natural resources which, when effectively harnessed, can help us overcome the development challenges confronting us as a people.
From the energy, water and petroleum sectors, Ghanaians have had to go through challenges in respect of demand and availability. Even when these services are available, the issue is always about accepting to pay the right price for them.
As we have stated before, the Daily Graphic is worried about the extreme politicisation of every national issue, as we believe that practice has contributed immensely to the present state of rancour, division and bitterness in our society.
Such is the state of affairs that every government since independence has found it difficult to bring on board opposing views or tapping the expertise of persons believed to have links with minority political parties.
The Daily Graphic believes that it is high time we came together as a united people with a common destiny to re-engineer the path of our economic independence.
This should start with the process of consensus building and using a bi-partisan approach to deal with the challenges confronting the nation.
We also believe that on occasions such as this, Ghanaians must renew their sense of nationalism, believe in themselves, the nation and a determination to jointly overcome the problems of poverty, illiteracy, ill-health, crime, conflict, violence, backwardness and underdevelopment.
The Daily Graphic thinks that the destiny of the nation rests with all who, on Republic Day, must resolve to work together to achieve the goals set by our forebears.
