By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Keta (VR), March 7, GNA – Mr Nicholas Gborse, a Historian, has stated that Ghana has not done enough to boast about after 68 years of independence from the colonial masters.
He said country was blessed with numerous natural and human resources but have failed to utilised them effectively for the benefit of its citizens.
Mr Gborse in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, to commemorate the country’s 68th Independence Day anniversary expressed disappointment about the slow progress and improvement of the country and urged the stakeholders to up their games.
“Ghana’s independence is not just about celebration, we have fertile land, water bodies, and natural resources combined with its human resources equipped with modern technological ideas, but all have not been harnessed profitably,” he said.
The historian also lamented about the mismanagement and collapse of several factories established by Ghana’s first President Dr Kwame Nkrumah which include Akosombo textile factory, Abosso Glass factory, and Asutuare Sugar factory among others which had potential to drive economic growth and development.
Mr Gborse also criticised Ghana’s education system, which he described as “purely bookish” without practical or skills training which has contributed to high youth unemployment and made the cost of living difficult and unbearable.
He expressed concern over the influence of politics, bribery, and corruption in many institutions, including security agencies, chiefs, pastors, opinion leaders, and teachers which endangered Ghana’s democracy, peace, national development.
“Many Ghanaians have lost hope due to indiscipline, disrespect for authority, and the loss of trust in public institutions which are always attributed to selfishness and nepotism among some leaders who failed to learn from Dr Nkrumah’s good governance.”
He explained that Ghana’s 68th independence anniversary serves as a reminder of the country’s journey so far and the challenges it still faced and emphasised that that it was essential for Ghanaians to reflect on their past, present, and future to build a more prosperous and sustainable nation.
Despite numerous challenges encountered by the country after independence, Mr Gborse acknowledged that Ghana has enjoyed peace over the years, making it one of the peaceful countries in the sub-region while praising the country’s constitution, strong military, and average education system.
He said that “Ghana has been one of the peaceful countries in Africa and in the world even in crucial situations, and that is why we host many more people from various countries due to our hospitality and l hope we maintain this forever.”
Mr Gborse urged government officials, stakeholders, chiefs, institutions, individuals among others to collectively work toward the progress of Mother Ghana devoid of selfishness, nepotism, political colours, and utilise various resources well to achieve common goal to develop the nation beyond aid.
He appealed to government to also implement proper policies and invest in youth in agriculture and skills development to alleviate foreign aid and importation of foodstuffs such as maize, yam, tomatoes, onions and from other countries to drive economic growth and development.
Meanwhile, some residents at Keta GNA engaged, sparked mixed reaction about Ghana’s 68th independence celebration with some expressed disappointment over the country’s slow progress while others believed and hope for the best.
This year’s 68th Independence Day celebration was on the theme “Reflect, Review, and Reset,” aimed at encouraging Ghanaians to reflect on their past, review their current situation, and reset their future for the best.
GNA