Ghana’s cyclical political and socio-economic retrogression in the hands of successive governments is extremely worrisome, as a matter of fact.

Observing Ghana’s contemporary political and socio-economic landscape, it appears that all the hard work put in by the Founding Fathers has been in vain. I bet they are mourning their beloved Ghana in their graves. How unfortunate!

The men and women back then displayed a high sense of patriotism, direction, and altruism.

Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, for instance, was, in my opinion, a shrewd politician who collaborated with his comrades and regained independence in 1957.

More importantly, some of his pragmatic steps put Ghana into a propitious socio-economic position, vis-à-vis the current outlook.

It is also worth mentioning that although his opponents did not agree with some of his infelicitous decisions, we cannot fault his unparalleled patriotism. Indeed, he was patriotically attached to Ghana’s cause.

It would be recalled that during the 6th March 1957 independence proclamation, Osagyefo eloquently recited a few important phrases which were designed to motivate Ghanaians. But as to whether those inspiring messages have impacted positively on the lives of Ghanaian people is yet to be seen.

In paraphrasing some of his benign, albeit enlivening statements, Dr Nkrumah confidently asserted back then that Blackman was more than ready and capable to rule himself.

Without any iota of doubt, he sounded like a manful optimist. Yes, I concur, a Blackman has the requisite knowledge and intelligence to be able to manage his own affairs, but has the intelligent and knowledgeable Blackman been able, and more importantly, willing to do so?

Again, during the delivery of the euphonious speech, Osagyefo aptly challenged all and sundry to come together and work hard towards the development of the nation, so as to gain our respect amongst nations.

Perfect, that message was tuneful to the ear, but have we, as a nation, managed, or in a position to do so?

My dear reader, tell me, which serious country on planet earth would sit idly and allow some homicidal brats to besiege a hospital emergency ward and terrorise, abuse, and invade the privacy of staff and patients without any comeuppance? I am afraid it’s Ghana.

Which democratic nation on earth would elected officials address the same people who voted them to power with such insolence and impishness? The perfect answer is Ghana.

Where is the seriousness when public servants constantly dip their hands into the national coffers as if tomorrow will never come and go scot free, while the goat, mobile phone, cassava and plantain thieves are incarcerated? It is only in Ghana.

How serious are we as a nation, when in the name of politics, we can sit aloof and allow some mindless hoodlums attack polling stations in the presence of security personnel and harm the electorates without any arrests and prosecutions? It is a democratic country called Ghana.

In this day and age, which civilised and democratic nation on earth would the security personnel who supposed to protect life and property, brutalise journalists and other civilians with unabashed disgust? Ghana is the answer.

Interestingly, Ghana’s existential socio-economic hardships, the inequalities and the rampant corruption, to some extent, give credence to the erudite writer, George Orwell’s narration of the animal farm.

George Orwell recounts that when the leaders of the farm were trying to gain their freedom from man, they brainwashed their followers in believing that, “all men are enemies. All animals are comrades.”

Their usual slogan was, “Four legs good, two legs bad.” “Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene and the root cause of hunger and
overwork is abolished forever.”

Ironically, after attaining their freedom from the two legs enemy, the vast majority of the ‘four legs animals’ did not enjoy the freedom, as the “elites” amongst them continued the suppression. Is George Orwell’s story not telling Ghana’s sad case? Verily, George Orwell’s animal farm story tells Ghana’s sorrowful story.

Our Founding Fathers’ came together and fought the common enemy-the colonial masters, in what they saw as oppressive rule. Yes, our Founding Fathers’ sought to resist the colonial masters’ suppression, which in my humble opinion, was a laudable feat.

Nevertheless, as to whether the vast majority of Ghanaians have gained socio-economic and fundamental freedoms following Ghana’s independence, is a question that would be opened to different interpretations.

As George Orwell narrates the animal farm story, Ghana’s independence has benefited and continues to benefit only a few-the greedy politicians. This is an illustrative case of “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

In spite of the economic hardships, some politicians live opulent lifestyles to the detriment of the masses. How bizarre?

I will venture to stress that so long as the elites among the ‘ four legs animals’ continue to exhibit unbridled selfishness, lack of patriotism, and look down on the ‘four legs lumpenproletariats’, Ghana may never develop meaningfully in our lifetime.