They Sing The Anthem While Robbing The Nation. Whither Way, Ghana?

In Ghana today, a hospital constructed with all necessary resources remains incomplete. This is due to a contractor holding onto the keys, as payment negotiations continue. The consequences of this situation are stark: individuals who are near the hospital when it is needed will be forced to seek care elsewhere, often in less equipped facilities. This scenario serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive corruption that plagues this nation.

The issue extends beyond the mere act of corruption; it is a systemic problem that has infiltrated every aspect of governance. Ambulances procured under questionable circumstances, military equipment distributed to officials who skimmed off the top, and vaccines administered to those who took a slice of the profits before reaching their intended recipients. This rot permeates the very fabric of the state's functioning, undermining the institutions meant to serve the public.

The individuals responsible for maintaining this system do not attempt to hide their actions. They cheer alongside citizens at national events, donning the very uniforms they abuse. As the national anthem plays, they sing with passion, unaware of the irony that their actions contradict the words they recite. This blatant disregard for the ideals they profess is a clear sign of the deception that has taken hold.

The question of why progress seems to have stalled is uncomfortable. The answer lies in the fact that the system has been stagnant since Ghana gained independence. Power has been handed down from one group of cronies to another, who have converted public office into personal wealth. These individuals then present their ill-gotten gains as "old money," as if they have earned it through hard work rather than exploiting the system.

The path to leadership now often depends on the ability to engage in petty disputes and garner applause for one's bravado. Competence, however, is rarely a prerequisite for entry into public life. Politicians rise based on their ability to incite controversy, rather than their capacity to manage the affairs of state. This shift in the criteria for success has allowed those without any real interest in public service to accumulate immense wealth and wield significant influence.

Despite 70 years of independence, the situation remains unchanged. A project is commissioned, a ribbon is cut, and applause is collected, but little else follows. The ceremony continues, but there is a glaring absence of follow-through. Institutions do not outlast their founders, and there is no mechanism to distinguish between public office and private gain.

This lack of accountability has created a system where public office is seen as a means to accumulate personal wealth, rather than a responsibility to serve the public good.

This is not a call for despair, though it would be understandable to feel disheartened. Instead, it is a plea for clarity about the nature of the problem at hand. The frustration that plagues the nation is not easily absorbed or ignored. What can absorb it more readily is a commitment to documentation, professional standards, institutional memory, and citizens who refuse to allow empty rituals to stand in for genuine progress.

The path forward is clear: we must document our actions, hold ourselves to professional standards, and build institutional memory that can withstand the winds of change. Only through such concerted efforts can we transform this country from a fatherless system into one where public office is truly accountable to the people it serves. Until then, we stand still, singing the anthem while robbing the nation, and the question remains: whither way, Ghana?