One of the issues that has preoccupied my thoughts is the economic plight of Africa. This predicament is not new as it has plagued our continent since the era of our founding fathers, and it appears to be getting worse. The youth are increasingly despondent as the future seems bleak, a prospect that is truly disheartening. Escalating food prices, rampant corruption, currency devaluation, and rising unemployment continue to stare us in the face in this twenty-first century.
As a Ghanaian youth, I will limit my reflections to Ghana, though it is evident that similar or even graver circumstances afflict many countries across the continent. Ghana prides itself on being the beacon of democracy in Africa, symbolized by the black star boldly stamped on our flag to symbolize hope—a hope that now seems elusive to the youth. A friend recently remarked, “….No one has hope of succeeding in Ghana anymore. That is why everyone wants to ‘jakpa’— seek greener pastures abroad, even risking their lives by stowing away on ships.” In terms of peace and democracy, Ghana fares well compared to its neighbors. We have conducted relatively peaceful elections and transitions of government over the past three decades. Our intrinsic peace-loving nature perhaps explains this.
However, despite the peace we enjoy, our economic development is stagnating. This is particularly troubling given our wealth of natural and human resources. Ghana ranks seventh in Africa for mineral resource production, including gold, diamonds, manganese, bauxite, and aluminum ore, according to a May 2024 report by Business Insider Africa. Additionally, we export commodities such as cocoa and timber to the European market.
The discovery of oil in 2007 was hailed as the game changer and had many Ghanaians in high hopes for economic growth and improved living standards—promising employment for the youth and generating revenue for essential infrastructure such as roads, schools, and hospitals. The enthusiasm was palpable among our experts and leaders. Yet, nearly two decades later, the anticipated transformative impact of oil has not materialized. Our economic woes persist, marked by unemployment, deteriorating infrastructure, and surging food prices.
On the human resources front, we are making strides. We recognize that human capital is crucial for harnessing our natural resources for economic development. Enrollment rates in primary, junior high, and senior high schools are rising annually, and tertiary institutions are experiencing high intakes. We also boast some of the brightest minds in fields such as economics, politics, engineering, science, and technology.
In light of our abundant resources, what then impedes our progress? Why do we struggle with basic issues such as food production? Many are quick to blame our leaders, accusing them of corruption, greed, and poor policy implementation. While our leaders indeed play a significant role in economic transformation, wielding control over resources and policy formulation, we too must take a fair share of the blame.
Our leaders were once like us, and we will someday become leaders. It is thus crucial to scrutinize ourselves and prepare to be better leaders. We must change our attitude. I argue that our collective attitude is the primary cause of our economic hardship. As U.S. President Joe Biden aptly stated, “Our future cannot depend on the government alone. The ultimate solution lies in the attitudes and the actions of the American people.”
An attitude is a mindset or perspective towards something, and ours has become detrimental to progress. Take environmental pollution, for instance. It is a common practice for individuals to discard rubbish indiscriminately, without remorse. Such individuals are often the first and the loudest to blame the government when floods occur.
In our workplaces, particularly government offices, tardiness, and a lackadaisical attitude are rampant. It is disheartening to hear employees make such ignorant statements like, “Is it my father’s work for me to always be punctual?” We overlook our collective responsibility to propel the nation forward through commitment and dedication. Our lack of a sense of responsibility obstructs the utopia we envision.
The pervasive mindset of “let’s all chop” exacerbates our predicament. We perceive every official duty as an opportunity for personal enrichment rather than a responsibility to serve our country. This mindset leads to economic decline, as we fail to realize—or care—that every misappropriated penny could alleviate someone’s suffering. We label our leaders as corrupt and incompetent, yet neglect our responsibilities.
This is not to absolve our leaders; they undoubtedly play an integral role in our development. However, it is a wake-up call to us. While we criticize our leaders, we must not ignore how our actions and negligence hinder progress. The notion that a government job is not “your father’s work,” leading to a lack of commitment, dedication, hard work, and responsibility, is a significant obstacle to economic development.
As a nation blessed with natural resources, we owe it to ourselves and future generations to foster patriotism and a positive attitude to harness these resources and build the Ghana of our dreams. We must do away with self-centeredness and cultivate a sense of responsibility towards government property and duties. Each individual must understand the cumulative impact of their actions on economic growth. It takes discipline to be a standout amid negativity, but if we endeavor, others may follow, gradually leading us to the promised land.
Our leaders may fail us, but we can also fail ourselves and future generations. Posterity will judge us harshly if we do not change. OUR ATTITUDE IS THE CANCER ERODING OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH.
Author: Street Philosopher
Email: razakayariga@yahoo.com
Whatsapp: +233554102582
It is palpable that our leaders have inflicted untreatable wounds on our nation’s development. what is worrisome is that their behavior has a knock on effect on the rest of us which have made us forget our responsibilities despite our leaders unprintable behavior. Your piece is a wake up call and Kudos to you.
Wonderful piece however I argue that we’ve rather deteriorated in economic development comparatively. Just like you stated that we’ve made strides in human resource development, we’ve become extremely worse off in majority of the key sectors namely, food security, unemployment, capital market performance etc. Comparatively I think an average Ghanaian is worse off than a decade ago.
You are right brother. In Africa the mindset is the biggest problem. Everybody’s thinking is all about themselves, not about others. Our selfishness is why we’re suffering in such a manner. Some have acquired everything in life, yet never satisfies.
Our youth has totally lost hope.