INTRO
It will
not be long for Ghana to mark its 58th independence anniversary. And as it is
to be expected, the discourse regarding Ghana’s road to independence has been
resurrected. And let me admit that the temperate and cerebral manner in which
these debates have been articulated lends credence
to the fact that Ghana is the
bastion of democracy in the sub region, if not the entire continent.
Having
followed some of the discussions that have greeted preparation towards Ghana’s Independence
Day celebration, I have come to observe an interesting but overriding argument;
the argument that the country should revisit the ideals and philosophies of Dr.
Kwame Nkrumah.
Christened
the ‘second coming of Nkrumah,’ apostles of this proposition have sought to
impress upon the leadership of the country to go back to adopt and implement
some of ideas and philosophies that underpinned the developmental agenda of Dr.
Kwame Nkrumah.
Copious
and self –evident as Nkrumah’s track records are, I will want to avoid
particular mention to avert the risk of digression. May be, this will land me
into another risk of over simplification but I don’t think that will be highly injurious to the purpose for this piece.
I will
not be detailed. I do not wish to interrogate any of the principles and
philosophies of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. In fact let me state that I have no competence in doing same. I don’t
intend to open the can on some of the things that Nkrumah had to do in order to
see some of his ideas and philosophies manifest. My purpose in this piece is to
reveal some of risks we are exposed to, clinging onto the proposition that
Nkrumah’s ideas and philosophies be revisited and adopted
MY OPINION
I have
no qualms with any recommendations that will go a long way to helping the
country out of the economic and energy abyss it is currently reeling under. While
I agree that any attempt at gleaning inspiration from one of Ghana’s most
successful leaders is highly commendable considering the developmental quagmire
that we currently faces as a country, I do not equally want to be
conservative in my thinking, as I find many of these proponents do.
I think
we should have a rethink over the issue. We need to do firm and fair retrospection, one devoid of sentiments, passion and political expediency and see
whether the changing scenes of time and global economic outlook makes the
adoption of Nkrumah’s ideas and philosophies prudent and feasible.
Personally
I turn to broach over these questions anytime this arguments is activated.
We are
a country of over 26.7 million. Are we all bereft of ideas? Since Nkrumah’s
overthrow haven’t we witnessed leadership that we can termed as visionary? Were
there not instances of corruption in Nkrumah’s so branded ‘utopian’ governance? Are we saying we cannot proffer solutions that are
relevant to our current pressing circumstances without recourse to Nkrumah? Do
we say that besides Nkrumah we have never had any visionary leaders? Can’t we
think our way out of the problems we have created for ourselves? Will Nkrumah’s
ideas rid the country of its institutional indiscipline and corrupt tendencies,
comprehensively?
We usually forget that visions and inspirations are usually
grounded on the exigencies of time. Bring him back .Put him on the seat and see
whether he will not be compelled to negotiate with the IMF, even though his
principles avidly condemns such an economic order.
Seriously, I think
Ghanaians must learn to wend themselves off the Kwame Nkrumah syndrome. The man
has paid his dues. There is no doubt about his indelible footprints, what I am
unable to accept is the argument that Nkrumah should be resurrected to provide
solutions to problems he never caused. It is a field work. He had played his
part, obviously others also have their role. Let them play it and stop hiding
behind the myth of the second coming of Nkrumah.
I
believe in providence. I believe in innovation. I believe in Time. Most
importantly, I believe that leaders are prepared by God to meet their own
challenges of their time. Their failure to live up to their responsibilities is
another issue for them to deal with as they render their accounts to their
maker and the governed.
While
they rule, leaders must be supported, when they lose focus they should be
criticized constructively, when they become corrupt, they must be exposed and
voted out. Let’s look beyond Nkrumah’s ideas, God
gave others new ideas for the needs of their time. Don’t let us pretend God wasn’t
fair enough to bless Ghana with only Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
What
will not be fair on our part is to virtually distract or attempt to compel our leaders and those prospecting to be leaders of
our country to kowtow to ideas and
philosophies of their predecessors on account that those ideas had worked in
their(Predecessor’s) time. This is not to say we can’t build and consolidate
the gains that they have made, though.
At the risk of being repetitive let me emphasize the need to upport diligent leaders, let expose the lazy ones and let's work at
eradicating corruption and see whether there will be a need to revisit the
ideas of Nkrumah.
As we pursue the path of democracy and development, critical
and progressive thinking becomes critical.
Samuel Osarfo Boateng
233541842198
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