Joseph Cudjoe writes: Ghana must break free from the dangerous mindset that natural resources are the foundation for wealth

Erich W. Zimmermann's statement, "Resources are not; they become," urges Ghana to reconsider its fixation on natural resources as the foundation of prosperity. While resources such as gold, bauxite, manganese and lithium present opportunities, they do not guarantee sustained wealth as technological advancements and alternative materials can render them less valuable.

Countries like Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Luxembourg illustrate that abundance in natural resources is not a prerequisite for national prosperity. Their success lies in prioritizing education, skills, innovation, technology and industrial development.

Ghana must shift its focus from extracting and exporting minerals to investing in its most valuable resource - its people. The country should prioritize Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education to equip young Ghanaians with the abilities to create technologies, develop products and build competitive industries. Natural resources may deplete or lose market value, but human ingenuity can continually generate new industries, products and wealth sources.

History demonstrates that natural resources once deemed essential can lose their value upon the emergence of synthetic alternatives or technological breakthroughs. This underscores the importance of developing a nation's capacity to innovate and create wealth, rather than relying solely on mineral deposits. While the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia administration has shown a commitment to education policies, it remains to be seen whether the Mahama administration is investing sufficiently in STEM education to develop the competencies needed to prosper beyond our natural resources.