Four Ghanaian problems politicians do not create

Each and everyday, Ghanaians are faced with challenges that they struggle to fight off. These struggles are of political, cultural and economic natures.

No matter what the problems are, most Ghanaians are quick to put the blames squarely at the feet of politicians. This is not to say that there are issues that do not have political dimensions.

This is to say that there issues that do not come from the doing of politicians. For these issues, we cannot connect them to politicians like we can easily connect education, health or the economy.

YEN.com.gh lists four problems that are not essentially the doing of problems.

1. Sanitation

Since 1992, Ghanaians have had a government appointed person or people in charge of managing sanitation in the country. However, the problem of sanitation is one that is far-removed from government appointees.

It is true that government needs to provide and support sustainable means of waste management. But what we cannot deny is that the people are either unwilling or unable to meet government halfway.

2. Domestic violence

The issue persists with domestic violence is such that no matter the executive power that is used by government, people will find a way to abuse others they live with.

This is not to say that the government cannot do anything at all about violence in homes and communities. But the problem has more to do with character of people than policy initiatives.

3. Unscrupulous religious men and women

It is rare to find Ghanaians who have not encountered religious leader or spiritualist that they were not suspicious of.

On social media platforms and in our communities, we see people becoming victims of religious persons who promise heaven on earth. And government cannot do much about that.

4. The tension among ethnic/religious groups

Martin Luther King Jr. once said that politicians can force people to treat each other fairly and equally. However, he added that politicians can never force people to live in peace and love.

The tensions about people and their ethnic and religious backgrounds are capitalised by politicians. But the problems are not their creations.