Ghana's 59th Independence Day Celebration; A waste or a need?

Ghana is 59 years independent. We've been our own masters for 59 years? This is good. 59 years ago, Dr Kwame Nkrumah stood and proclaimed that 'Ghana, our beloved country is free forever'. It was a great day of promise, hope and enthusiasm.

All across the nation yesterday, pupils, students and security forces marched to commemorate the day. Some endured till the end, others collapsed and others died even before the day. Our independence was attained by some people losing their lives for it. Today, we are losing lives celebrating it.

The question then is whether it is worth the money, time, lives and energy celebrating our independence the way it is currently done? Are we really acting independent for which reason we need to celebrate? 59 years ago, we said we were capable of managing our own destiny and economy. Today, we're on a world bank economic recovery program. 59 years ago, we said we'll use our on currency. Today, most of local businesses are charging in dollars and many people including our leaders prefer to use the dollar and not our cedi.

For me, it doesn't make sense if we truly say we are independent for 59 years and we don't seem to have any idea how to really solve the problems of our people. It doesn't make sense that 59 years on, some kids in some parts of the country cannot get a good drinking water, cannot sit under a roof to study, cannot access basic health care or cannot live their dreams because of a mosquito bite. It really doesn't make sense. As an independent nation, we are in charge of ourselves; we know what our needs are and we must solve these needs.

True independence is where the leadership and the citizenry of a country truly accept the responsibility of their destiny, trying their possible best to solve their own problems and collectively create better lives themselves, their children and their children's children. In this country, we see a leadership pretending to lead and a citizenry pretending to be led. We see politicians sucking the very life blood of the people and they are hailed for doing so. We see a lot of 'uncommon sense' in state policies and projects.

How independent are we when the hearts and minds of our leaders are so chained to corruption and greed? How independent are we when the people who should speak up against the injustices of our systems refuse to do so for the fear of being tagged partisan? How independent are we when we prefer and promote foreign businesses and their products to the neglect of our own? How independent are we when we spend our taxes on unnecessary 'party coloured' policies for our selfish interests? How independent are we when we keep running around the world begging for loans and grants that end up in the pockets of some greedy few? HOW INDEPENDENT ARE WE?

Dr Kwame Nkrumah said that Ghana's independence is meaningless unless it is linked to the total liberation of the African continent. I say Ghana's independence is meaningless until it is linked to the total liberation of the heart, mind and souls of its leaders and citizens. Our leaders need a heart, mind and soul that first seeks the interest of the people and then looks within to provide these needs for the people. Our citizenry needs a heart, mind and soul that asks what can I do for my country rather than what my country can do for me. We need a citizenry that will reject lazy, greedy and selfish leaders.

We all have a role to play in making our country a truly independent one. Let's all contribute our little quota to making Ghana great again. Yes, we can. I strongly believe in the potential of this country. There is hope for us but hope they say, is not a strategy. We must get to work for the hope to materialise. I challenge you to be an agent of change. I challenge you to be a truly independent Ghanain who contributes in anyway to making this country great again. Ghana needs me and Ghana needs you. So, rise up and let's go make our nation great and strong.

Written by Bismark Tay ( Life Coach and Leadership Consultant )