Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast Archbishop Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle has made a strong case for the renewal and transformation of the minds of Ghanaians in order to achieve government’s vision of Ghana Beyond Aid.

He said as an ardent fan of the late reggae sensation Bob Marley’s, emancipation from mental slavery at all times must go hand-in-hand with the renewal of minds in order to put Ghana beyond over-dependence on foreign aid.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle was speaking at a virtual forum hosted by the Office of the Senior Minister on Thursday, June 11 on how the country can brace the coronavirus pandemic to achieve President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s vision of saving the country from dependence on foreign aid.

The forum was themed: ‘Covid-19 and Our March Towards Ghana Beyond Aid: Turning Adversity Into Opportunity’.

The Roman Catholic priest spoke on the topic: ‘Renewing Our Mindset And Changing Attitude For Our Collective Development’.

He said despite government’s emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as part of the vision for schools, there should be more emphasis on values.

“Unfortunately, there is not a concomitant or adequate emphasis on values and value formation,” he said.

“I think it is because we take it for granted. When I look at the universities, I would wish that as we emphasise the STEM, we should also equally emphasise the humanity and the liberal arts.”

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle has not hidden his fanaticism for Bob Marley and he quoted the lyrics of his ‘Redemption Song’ to drum home his point.

“As you know Charles Palmer-Buckle, he has a patron saint called Bob Marley and I believe we don’t need just to renew our mindset but we need an emancipation from our mental form of slavery at all times.”

He added: “Therefore it falls under Ghana beyond Aid.”

He recommended that Chapter 2 of the document guiding Ghana Beyond Aid – which lists some values for each and every Ghanaian – should be amplified and reproduced for reading for every Ghanaian citizen.

Among the values are patriotism, honesty, respect, discipline, hardwork, volunteerism, self-reliance, safeguarding the public purse and transparency and accountability.

He said there should be a paradigm shift from the current mindset and attitudes.

He, therefore, recommended that the Ghana Education Service (GES), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) as well as faith-based and civil society organisations should be tasked “to work out very pertinent syllabus and curricula on those fundamental values outlined here and how they can be inculcated into every Ghanaian from cradle to the grave”.