Ghana turns 57 after gaining independence in 1957

As the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence, the country’s struggle, led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and supported by the working masses, inspired countries across the continent to free themselves from their colonial masters. However, the struggle didn’t end on 6 March 1957 and some say neocolonialism is still alive and that Ghana’s import-driven economy is proof of this.

Despite this, the country is respected in the region for the strides it has taken to achieve political stability by ending military coups and avoided political deadlocks. While Ghana has many accolades to be proud of,and rightly so, there is still much to be done.

For example, there are infrastructure projects, such as the rehabilitation of the Eastern Corridor, airports and gas plant that seem to be on extended delay. Furthermore, a lack of accountability in government agencies means that some parts of the country and even the capital, Accra, haven’t had running water from their taps for decades.

Development outside of the Greater Accra region and regional capitals in the South is also stagnant.Basic education needs to be expanded and public healthcare facilities are still inefficient. Consequently, the economy is still volatile with the prices of goods and services still up and salaries not being paid. On top of that, government spending is huge and the cedi is in free-fall.

But there is still a silver-lining. Currently there is a promising, and increasingly internationally recognized civil society that is being cultivated whilst some journalists are holding government to account on issues and not party politics. Furthermore, a wave of Ghanaian entrepreneurs are making their mark in a range of industries from telecoms to fashion and from the arts to finance.

In addition, the president may now be heralding a move to promote Ghanaian made goods that reach the global market place as these innovators have long been known to support their own. With that being said, Ghanaians have much to be proud of in these last 57 years. Even though the road may be long and winding, the country is surely on that path to complete independence.

Source: The Africa Report