'Ghana is worse today' – Former diplomat laments decline in national values

Former diplomat and member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Vetting Committee, Professor Barfour Adjei-Barwuah, has expressed worry over what he describes as a decline in Ghana’s values, arguing that the country has become increasingly driven by self-interest and partisan politics.

Speaking on Citi FM's Eye Witness News on September 9, 2026, he recounted his early days in the country, where hard work and responsible citizenship were seen as pathways to a respectable life, which he says is different from what is being experienced today.

He also criticised what he described as excessive political polemics in the country, saying this has left little room for citizens to think seriously about Ghana’s development.

According to him, many Ghanaians now appear to believe that irresponsible behaviour is necessary to get ahead, while political considerations have taken precedence over the national interest.

“Ghana is now worse in the sense that people seem to believe that in order to progress, you must of necessity be irresponsible.

How Ghana nearly slipped into military rule under Akufo-Addo - Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe recounts

"And then also, we have allowed ourselves to believe that all that the nation needs to do is to play politics. So, there is so much polemics in our system and people don't even take the opportunity to think about the country. Most of us, we think about ourselves,” he lamented.

Prof Adjei-Barwuah added that the pursuit of personal financial gain had increasingly taken priority over national development.

“In thinking about ourselves, basically means that you probably will have the one plug money. The nation sits somewhere and all that… The nation is secondary. Very secondary.

"It is very difficult. It becomes news when you are honest as a politician... it also means that you have to endure individually certain kinds of things that you don't need to endure because if you want to play it right, somehow or the other, the country tells you that you are either being short-sighted, or you are being stupid or what have you. We have lost the Ghana spirit,” he added.

JKB/BAI

Ghana Must Integrate AI Into Existing Government Systems - Seth Terkper