Ghana has lost the dream, hope and focus to lead Africa - GCPP

The Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) has called on Ghanaians to unite for a sustainable renaissance in Africa as the country celebrates another Republic Day anniversary on July 1.

It said Ghana was the first African state to attain independence and that the Ghanaian sovereignty brought with it both the challenge and responsibility of proving to the world that the black man was capable of managing his own affairs.

This was contained in a press statement signed by Dr Henry Herbert Lartey, Leader of the GCPP on Wednesday.

Dr Henry Lartey indicated that 53 years down the lane in the midst of abundance in both human intellect and God-given natural resources, Ghanaians still begged at the doors of other nations soliciting for help which would never be forthcoming.

He said Ghanaians had failed to domesticate the economy and to lead Africa into a new era of prosperity and also failed to make Ghana the Black Star of Africa. “Far worse than this, we have also lost the dream, hope, focus and aspiration to do so,” he added.

He noted that the two-term victory of President Obama should be a reminder of how black Americans grabbed onto that dream and never lost hope because it was the continuity of dreams and hope that build nations.

“It was the dreams and hopes of our founders that we Ghanaians would be a Black Star leading the people of this continent towards a powerful and united Africa,” he said.

Dr Lartey pointed out that dreams and hopes were not the only ingredient in building a nation, rather the economy was where these dreams must be organised, supported and developed because “the union of Africa should be striven for by every lawful means, and when attained should be faithfully preserved”.

The GCPP leader noted that the late Dan Lartey, founder of the party, sought to reawaken the spirit of unification and economic empowerment through the implementation of “Operation Feed Yourself” in which he introduced the concept of domestication; eat what you grow and grow what you eat, feed your industry and export what is left.

“The concept of domestication is about using your own resources for development,” he added.

Dr Lartey said it was time for a sustainable renaissance in Ghana and Africa for economic, cultural and political empowerment that would last from one generation to the other.

He mentioned that Africa had abundance of energy in the form of sun and other renewable resources and encouraged the country to domesticate such advances made in the international community in areas of science, sustainable health care and sanitation, sustainable agriculture and economies as well as an empowered people.

He also added that in the midst of democracy, the country must become refined in her methods and remain committed to a path of reconciliation both politically and socially.