Ghana, African’s beacon of hope has once again demonstrated to the whole world that it is ready to lead the new Africa into the enlightened democracies of the world where the sovereign will of the people is far greater than all the monstrous anger, the bullets and guns in Burma Camp. This has been possible through the collective and high sense of responsibility of all of us, its citizenry exhibited before, during and after the just 2008 ended general elections.

The youth of Ghana who form a greater number of the population were the target of all the major political parties. Parties came up with slogans, advertisements and songs that appealed to the youth most and in the end it yielded dividends. The moment of decision finally came and Ghanaians decided that Prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills should be given the keys to navigate the vessel of Ghana to a safer ground.

History unfortunately reminds us there is a great gap between promise and practice. Sometimes I ask myself whether all the soothing promises made by Professor Mills concerning the youth of Ghana would be achieved. Were all these promises made for conveniency of it for the purpose of wining the support of the teeming youth in the country? I turn back to the youth and ask this question: The questions are: Firstly, are these politicians going to deliver on their promises? Secondly, Are the youth going to hold these our politicians accountable for not carrying on their promises?

I am not that old to recount the experiences of the first, second and third republics but for the fourth republic(current dispensation), at least that I have been a partaker in establishing. In all the past four terms as well as the immediate one; I have recounted that , one thing so common was the fact that the youth were the tools in achieving their goals. If the youth is that important in achieving ones political dreams then the youth deserve better than what we have seen over the years.

The past sixteen years has seen the hope of the Ghanaian youth being wiped off. The vision of the youth has become like a mirage. Companies and industries have been shut down, Parents have been laid off, education is now the reserve of the rich and no more a right of the people as enshrined in the constitution. Total collapse of the railway and air travel industry and a good number of other services that made life a little bit easier for those at the helm of affairs now when they were growing up. Now that the world is closing up through the power of technology, Ghanaians are going back instead of moving forward as declared by our visionary first president (Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah).

As a child growing up I remember in Akrokerri, a town in Ashanti region near Obuasi, I remember that the town had well furnished health centre with 24-hour response ambulance services, telephone service, community water supply, post office, good town roads, community toilets, good community schools, two state farms, public bus service, railway transportation and a host of others that due to mismanagement all these have sadly collapsed. All these are no more in existence except the clinic which has been reduced to the state of nothingness and not even to talk about the ambulance which has been left to corrode under the action of the weather. I know these are the seenery across the country. I see this as the cause of self centered individuals who have led this nation in the past. I do not limit these people to presidents but ministers, district chief executives and some public officers. Thank God we had Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom in the presidential race who kept on wetting our appetite by telling us that ‘it can be done.’ This should give the Ghanaian youth hope that with the right leadership we can turn our fortunes around.

The dawn of another era has just about begun. I implore all Ghanaian youth not to give up the zest of life but keep the dream of better nation alive. Like what Jesus said: whatever your hand finds to do, do it well. The youth cannot match a disappointment to their maker but by being the eye of their respective communities. That is by channeling their youthful exuberance into worthwhile activities and also holding the government they have helped in establishing accountable. While doing this, we should remember that there is no short cut to life ‘Kwantia ye musuo.’ The act of patriotism must be alive. ‘Arise Ghana youth for your country….’

Godwin Benin

godwinbenin@yahoo.com