Copying is a trademark of Ghanaians, from atrocious dressing to atrocious entertainment. Since we as a nation have taken the bold decision not to be creative in some areas of development, why don’t we be just as bold to copy what will develop a nation? Comparison is in line with copying, so I’m allowed to compare, isn’t it?
Political:
When it comes to politics in Ghana, it is very disheartening. Many politicians talk and react to issues like they have never stepped foot in a classroom, and the unfortunate thing is some of them are well traveled and very educated.
Who is a President/politician accountable to? Where does his responsibility lie?, His family, coffers or people who elected him into power? Does an MP even know what is happening in his constituency?
Politicians were humiliated (and some even jailed) just for claiming some expenses in the UK (pardon me for using UK). In Ghana, who questions thoroughly where and what monies are used for?
Everything done or said is firmly planted on tribalism. If you say anything, either you’re a Ga, Ewe or Ashanti, one cannot even express a point without being attached to a tribe. Instead of allowing appropriate authorities to deal with any issues regarding politics and politicians, excuse me to say, jobless people who are waiting on the government to feed and clothe them wait outside wielding weapons (just yesterday), to beat who?
A word can jeopardize someone’s political ambition in the West, but in my dear Ghana, unfortunate words are traded each day. Politicians make promises and overlook what the nation needs most.
Some media houses make it worse by given certain politicians vibrant platforms to call people names. I may be in the dark, but do we have a Communication Regulatory Body in Ghana?
Entertainment:
We are now into reality TV shows, no problem! Since that idea was copied from the West, why don’t we put a proper entertainment structure in place as they also have? MUSIGA is doing wonders with the music industry, I cannot say the same about the Movie/Theatre with confidence.
Just a handful of people (two if you ask me), are really striving to make the Movie Industry worth anything. Do we even have a proper Actors, Directors, Scriptwriters and Producers Guilds? (I’m not taking about the same people crippling it with trash movies), I mean proper associations or unions, whereby, all the Actors and Actresses who are day dreaming of going to HOLLYWOOD belong.
What is MUSIGA doing so right, that the others are getting it completely wrong? Is it the leadership or lack of vision?
Fashion:
Thankfully, there is no dress maker in Ghana anymore, we now have Fashion designers. Since we are copying the West, why don’t we learn that a designer can sue you if you ‘steal’ his/her design? One idea and the whole lot will flood to that gate! What happened to uniqueness?
While one is creating this, the other can create another thing, and then the market will be beautifully bigger with a difference. Very soon, every designer will be their own consumer since every is producing the same thing.
Education/Employment:
Teaching Entrepreneurial and Apprenticeship in Tertiary level will go a long way to help. As Africans, we are always brought up with the idea of getting qualifications to work in some office. Nobody taught us to study and become our own boss. People going into entrepreneurship will go a long way to deflate the number of people seeking employment. The attitude in Ghana is; my job equals my qualification!
Currency:
When I came to England to continue my education, I don’t remember my mother paying my fees in cedis! My point is, why should a country which has its own currency be charging fees in dollars! I may be wrong, but undermining your own currency is definitely going to devalue it. Everything is dollar! It is even fashionable to tell someone that ‘My child goes to a dollar charging school’.
Finally, waiting for this political party or that political party to come into power before you become well-off is the language/attitude of a lazy man. ‘If NDC was in power, if NPP was in power………all the time’.
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