In 1957, the world watched with admiration as a young nation stood tall and declared its freedom.
Ghana, the Black Star of Africa, was born with dreams larger than her borders. Her first leader, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, envisioned an industrialised, united and self-reliant nation, a beacon of hope for the African continent.
However, more than six decades later, that dream seems to be fading. Today, Mother Ghana weeps.
Her once-rich lands, blessed with gold and minerals, are bleeding. Illegal mining, galamsey, has turned her rivers brown, poisoned her waters and scarred her forests.
What was meant to be a blessing has become a curse. Greed and carelessness have replaced stewardship and patriotism.
Her state-owned enterprises, once symbols of national pride, are sinking under heavy debt, yet their leaders live in luxury.
Politics has replaced competence and corruption has become the bitter song echoing through public institutions.
The very structures built to uphold progress are now the sources of decay.
In our schools, children study under trees or in broken classrooms, with few books and fewer teachers.
In our hospitals, patients share beds and doctors work with empty shelves.
Our roads are unsafe, and our infrastructure cries for attention.
Meanwhile, politicians argue and promise as they always do every four years.
The media, once the fearless watchdog of society, now depends on political sponsorship, and many of its voices echo not truth, but loyalty to power.
Even the pulpit, once sacred, has become a stage for political sermons.
And the ordinary Ghanaian?
He has learned to survive, not to hope.
Hunger has replaced ambition; daily bread has replaced the national dream.
Mother Ghana stands alone, watching her children tear apart the fabric she once wore with pride.
The vision of unity, growth and justice has been drowned by self-interest and division.
Yet, there is still time.
Ghana can rise again if her children learn to love her more than they love power.
If we can look beyond party colours and remember the red, gold and green that bind us all.
Until then, Mother Ghana will keep weeping.
God bless our homeland, Ghana!
Opoku Agyemang Isaac,
Social commentator/youth advocate,
P.O. Box SE 665,
Suame-Kumasi.
