It is yet another solemn year to move in line with the formalities of celebrating Ghana’s Independence Day with emptiness, sufferings and gloominess of livelihoods. What have we to celebrate? Is it to again shower unfortunate praise on the devastating effects of poverty and hunger on the lives of the majority poor?





It is always difficult and almost impossible to fathom contemporary conditions of livelihoods of majority Ghanaians and the need to again ‘waste’ resources celebrating Independence Day. It doesn’t mean it is unimportant to remember this “great day”. But the case is that the country should have the grounds toward commemorating this special day especially when it has managed to deafen the alarming sounds of sufferings caused by extreme poverty and hunger.





This year’s celebration of this so-called memorable day is akin to the lavish celebrations of Robert Mugabe’s 86th birthday when the economy of Zimbabwe struggles to recover from crisis. People barely make ends meet in Zimbabwe. In the case of Ghana, we have absolutely nothing to show off. Poverty that extends from the north to the south and from the east to the west is what pertains in this era in the land touted as the beacon of democracy in Africa.


Was Ghana’s Independence Day declared on 6th March, 1957, known to be only that day the corridors of the country were relieved from claws of servitude? Without shred of any doubt, the glory of this day, when it was declared that the black African is capable of managing his own affairs, continues to fade away. This is because Ghana has not lived up to the mark that constitutes the criteria for this day. All conditions point to the fact that the freedom from servitude and cruel rule from our taskmasters is not real when majority of Ghanaians continue to be held captive by poverty.


The gallant display of flags and decorations, exhibition of fleet of expensive government cars and outward sign of patriotism (but inwardly empty) is not the true meaning of the celebration of this day. This day should rather be the moment to reflect on why poverty still, amidst rich agriculture lands and abundant natural resources, has a firm grip on the livelihoods of the majority poor.


The question that remains unanswered is that is independence only geared towards fighting for freedom from vassalage of political rule only to be enslave by “POVERTY”? If so, then what are the legitimate grounds for the celebration of this day?


The thorny Issue


The National Celebration Planning Committee has chosen "Investing in the Youth for a Better Ghana" as the theme of the anniversary in recognition of the central role the youth have played in Ghana's history. It is, indeed, a right theme especially when the contribution of the youth in terms of employment, security and income remains outstanding.


Candidly, the country is good at just vainly choosing themes that reflect present-day approaches and strategies to development. Implementation of the subject under focus poses a big challenge. No wonder the youth are diverting their courses to foreign lands for greener pastures.


Nonetheless, the day, “Independence Day” is worth celebrating considering the relentless and unwavering efforts and commitments put up by undoubtedly, the greatest leader ever in the country, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. In fighting for freedom from taskmasters, Dr. Nkrumah had ideologies and development strategies that remain pertinent to any economy that tends to move from the grounds of underdevelopment to a middle-income status and even above. Ideally, the day should be earmarked for reflections on and adoption of these strategies to determine whether the economy is making progress or otherwise. It is worthwhile to note that these ideologies laid down in the 1960s, believe it or not is the "model of development" adopted by the major Asian countries especially those in the Eastern and South-eastern corridors. As a leader of vibrant national passion for development and self-reliance, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah embarked upon very costly nationwide infrastructure improvement scheme and in the same vein, gave utmost credence to home-grown solutions towards insuring food security by strategic improvements in the agriculture sector including business ventures and enterprises.


The display of hypocrisy is evident in the following. Firstly, a country that has taken upon itself to celebrate the significance of this day has failed to realize the need to implement development strategies that have served practical usefulness to the economy of Taiwan, Malaysia and the rest of the countries known to be the “Asian Tigers”. Sadly, Ghana has thrown away this component of “embodiments of independence” to following what would ostensibly bring no salvation to her economic woes. Practically, the signs of massive industrialization undertaken by Nkrumah have surprisingly been left to rot. That is, medium to large scale industries including agro-processing industries, glass factory, to mention but a few, set up by Osagyefo have been totally neglected. And yet, Ghana is admitting that there is a day so special to celebrate. What is the actual meaning of this celebration? This is hypocrisy number one.


Secondly, the exhibition of beautiful colours of the flag and the huge presence of Ghanaians at Independence Square to be baked under hot “climate change” sun should rather reflect a country that has succeeded in extirpation all forms of chronic poverty or at least reduced poverty levels to half. Meanwhile, we live in a country where poverty has registered its feat amongst its citizens. What really is the essence of Thank You Nkrumah Concert on March 5? It’s a complete waste of state funds. Again, as if to say that the attention by government officials, politicians and Ghanaians given to the sound of the ‘National Pledge’ at March 6 signifies a total commitment to national progress. But corruption and mismanagement is found among these supposed angels of the economy. This is the second hypocrisy.


An agrarian economy that has a legacy of nothing else than increasing hunger even among farmers deserves deep rethinking and restructuring. It is a charge of President Mills to set the record straight in the celebration of GHANA@53. Throwing expensive parties and organizing concert should not even be associated with the commemoration of “INDEPENDENCE DAY”.


Conclusion


This time, Ghana @ 53 should mean a lot to us. I believe the country should not be going through all these blights of hunger and poverty. Decorating homes with the flag of Ghana would not bring food to the hungry neither can it accelerate the growth of the economy. Independence Day without adequate employment opportunities for the youth is not worthy to be celebrated. Independence Day without improved livelihoods of the rural folks is not fit to be celebrated. We cannot have “Thank you Nkrumah concert” when his strategies to development has totally been thrown overboard. For how long would the country continue to display this high-level hypocrisy? It’s about time we came to the realization that GHANA should live above reproach.


Independence Day should not only be seen as freedom from cruel political rule that was deemed slavery but freedom from the threats of extreme poverty and hunger and for that matter the need to ensure development. There is no form of slavery more devastating than been slavery to chronic poverty. The celebration of Independence Day reflecting on the anomalies of the economy and providing lasting solutions should remain at the top of issues. This country needs to rise up and cause a real change. LONG LIVE MOTHER GHANA!!





The author, Stephen Yeboah is at the Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana. [Email: stephenyeboah110@yahoo.com]