A GNA Feature by Augustine Appiah
Accra, July 14, GNA- Every nation pays a price for its actions. Some countries invest in discipline and enjoy clean cities, efficient public services, safer roads, and strong economies.
Other countries pay the cost of indiscipline through accidents, corruption, pollution, delays, and wasted national resources.
Where can Ghana be placed on the on the benchmark of discipline?
The phrase “indiscipline tax” does not refer to a new government levy. Rather, it is the hidden cost that every Ghanaian pays because of irresponsible attitudes and behaviours. Whether rich or poor, young or old, every Ghanaian bears the burden of indiscipline in one way or another.
Every day, drivers ignore traffic lights, charge unapproved transport fares, stop on highways to pick up or drop off passengers, engage in unnecessary and dangerous overtaking. Commercial vehicles overload passengers, traders occupy roads and pavements, and pedestrians cross highways carelessly.
These acts of indiscipline increase traffic congestion, contribute to avoidable road accidents, cause injuries and loss of lives, and force government to spend millions of cedis on emergency response, healthcare, road maintenance, and law enforcement. These are all forms of the hidden “indiscipline tax” that every Ghanaian ultimately pays.
Environmental sanitation presents another costly example. Littering streets, dumping refuse into drains, and indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste contribute to flooding during the rainy season.
Government then spends huge sums of money dredging drains, repairing damaged roads, and assisting affected communities—funds that could have been invested in schools, hospitals and job creation.
The workplace is not spared. Employees who arrive late, neglect their duties, misuse office equipment, or engage in corruption reduce productivity and increase operational costs. Businesses pass these costs on to consumers through higher prices, while the economy suffers from reduced competitiveness.
Corruption remains one of the most expensive forms of indiscipline. Public funds meant for development are diverted for personal gain, resulting in abandoned projects, poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare, and unemployment. The ordinary Ghanaian ultimately pays the price through reduced public services and slower economic growth.
Tax evasion also weakens national development. Many individuals and businesses fail to pay their fair share of taxes while expecting quality roads, reliable electricity, modern schools, and improved healthcare. Sustainable development requires citizens to contribute honestly and responsibly to national revenue.
The education sector also reflects the consequences of indiscipline. Examination malpractices, truancy, destruction of school property, and disrespect for teachers undermine the quality of education and produce graduates who may lack the values needed for national transformation.
Character development must therefore receive as much attention as academic achievement.
The solution does not lie solely with stricter laws or harsher punishments. National development begins with personal responsibility. Every Ghanaian has a role to play by obeying traffic regulations, keeping the environment clean, respecting public property, paying taxes honestly, rejecting corruption, and performing assigned duties diligently.
Parents must instil discipline in children from an early age. Schools should strengthen civic and moral education, while religious bodies, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, and the media should continue promoting integrity, accountability, and responsible citizenship.
Public officials must equally lead by example, demonstrating transparency and commitment to the public good.
Countries such as Singapore, Rwanda and Japan have shown that discipline is a powerful driver of development. Their progress was not built solely on natural resources but on a national culture of responsibility, respect for laws, and collective commitment to the common good. Ghana can achieve similar success if discipline becomes a shared national value.
The time has come for Ghanaians to recognise that every act of indiscipline carries a cost. We already pay this hidden tax through poor roads, flooded communities, power losses, corruption, traffic congestion, and underdeveloped public services.
Instead of accepting these losses as normal, we should choose the path of discipline, responsibility, and accountability.
National development is not only the responsibility of government; it is the collective duty of every citizen. If we eliminate the hidden “indiscipline tax” by changing our attitudes and behaviours, Ghana will have more resources to invest in education, healthcare, infrastructure, innovation, and economic growth.
The greatest contribution every Ghanaian can make to national development is not merely demanding better governance but demonstrating better citizenship. A disciplined nation is a prosperous nation, and Ghana’s future depends on the choices we make today.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah