Greetings On Independence Day

Dr. Samuel Adjei Sarfo

On the occasion of the 58th independence anniversary of the motherland, I extend to you all abundant goodwill and eternal felicitation. This day is the time for reflection on the value of our liberation from the yoke of colonialism and the shackles of foreign domination. So we should use this time to think about the true meaning of our independence, freedom and justice.

A nation that is nearly three score years old should see herself rise from one level of prosperity to another in order to confer prosperity and hope upon its people. But hitherto, the task of nation building has been daunting, giving rise to skepticism as to what the future holds and what the purpose of our independence has been. There is too much corruption, cronyism and ineptitude within our body politic.

But the present path of our nation does not justify the diminishment of our hope nor lead to disillusionment from our dreams. We have overcome tyranny and dictatorships that gripped our country soon after colonial rule. Today, we have a vibrant democracy, a participatory population and an enthusiastic citizenry. There is no fear of speech nor abolition of due process. We are not afflicted by war or rumors of war. There is neither drought nor earthquake nor pestilence. And our natural and human resources remain abundant, ready to be tapped for our future prosperity.

So then, the attitude on this Independence Day ought to be that of gratitude, optimism and hope, and in hoping, we must pledge to do our utmost best to make our nation greater and better. We must never lose the opportunity to protect our freedoms and to assert justice by keeping a vigilant watch and strengthening our institutions. We must speak the truth without reference to any partisan or ethnic or religious proclivities. And we must be true to ourselves in our commitment to our national goals. Therein lies the tools for our national growth and prosperity.

And in this context, it is possible to rely solely on a divine hand for our salvation; but we must ourselves be the conduit to complement the proper workings of the divine. For the work of nation building begins with the character and commitment of the individual, and extends to the family, and to the society before percolating down to the country. A nation prospers by dint of its citizens' dedication to the ideals of duty and patriotism. And we perform this duty and portray this patriotism through acts of honesty, fidelity and charity and a conscious awareness that we are all ambassadors of a great nation to which we owe perpetual allegiance, service and sacrifice.

Happy Independence Day to you all, and may God grant you long life, health, wealth and happiness.

Samuel Adjei Sarfo, Doctor of Law, is a general legal practitioner and President of the Ghanaian Association of Austin, Texas. You can email him at sarfoadjei@yahoo.com.