Guest Blog: Hoping against hopeless hope

I fear so much the very chance I get to think about all the anomalies of the universe and life in itself so here I am with another painful truth no one wants to hear. Nkrumah didn’t toil for this but it’s unfortunate I have to break this to all fellow Ghanaians.

Ghana as a country will never attain the pride of a developed country with a first-class status of any sort. We are not the hope of Africa. We will continue to rot shamefully in our land of greed and corruption. We will never have that beautiful narrative of Rwanda or Malaysia or South Korea; not even AS Roma who were able to rise from their ruins to clutch a last-minute win against a star-studded Barcelona.

Now let me tell you why and if by chance you are not convinced enough, then three cheers to your firm belief and faith in our GHANA.
For the many Christians that barely know the God they profess, I’d like to draw things a little into perspective by inferring from a familiar scripture that talks about how the Lord tarries in his

coming because he wishes that we all make it to heaven. (1 Tim 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

Now here is the part that seemingly makes God look like a confused man – the same scriptures also condemn some people already because “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” so here is a second sad truth maybe, not everyone is going to make heaven. I won’t front now as I’d like to inform you dear reader that, I am typing this particular paragraph with a bit of trepidation and corrupted reverence for God because I just called my maker a confused man.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth but, in the beginning, too, darkness surfaced over the deep; before there was light. Black and White, Light and Darkness, Good and Bad, Rich and Poor, Life and Death – they will always exist side by side. So, believe me when I say not everyone can be rich and so not every country can be like the US or China. I am satisfied I’ve defeated all logic with regards to this argument but let me reiterate that Ghana is going to remain a dependent and bipartisan nation with undisciplined citizens and backward thinking leaders.

Again, allow me to tell you why.
Frank Appiah taught me Social Studies in JHS 3 and mentioned that Ghana can add value to the cocoa it produces and as a result, accrue a lot of revenue from its exportation. Fast forward to some 7 years later – I sat in a Capital Markets conference organised by SEC last year November and listened to a speech from one Mister.

The honorable gentleman concluded his energetic remarks with a humble plea to all who cared to listen. “Let’s learn to add value to our cocoa because Ghana together with Côte D’Ivoire produces close to 60% – 70% of the world’s cocoa yet we receive just 2% of the $100bn annual revenue that comes from cocoa”.

Till date, we have done nothing to change the narrative my Social Studies teacher complained about some 7 years ago but that’s okay. It’s the least of our numerous problems as we speak. Don’t be shy to talk about seeking greener pastures in Netherlands or Canada to pursue a Master’s programme or perhaps raising your family in Finland or Singapore. It does not tag you as unpatriotic. You and I have attitudes that the government of Ghana can’t control – despicable attitudes – so think about it honestly. Is there really hope for us?

Now why on Earth will I spend my dawn putting together these horrible and discouraging words when I know for a fact that there are a lot of individuals out there doing the most in their own small way to change our narrative?

Two things – the first is to provoke you to wake up and change your mindset and attitude about this nation and do something good in your community because you are capable.

The second and most important is for posterity to look back at these words and chorus unanimously – “He was right about our nation. Herbert was right all along”.

For the many that will come across this piece and step up to prove me wrong by turning our country’s fortunes around, God bless you.
Seeing our nation prosper come 10 to 15 years will so gladly be my greatest satisfaction but yet still, I hate to be proven wrong because I am always right.

I have figured out our problems as a nation in 1 hour 17 minutes and provided you with a solution. Make me President in 2032.

Written by Herbert Ofori Dankyi. University of Ghana, Legon