Seeing President Nana Akufo-Addo gleefully pose with a one million dollar cheque, said to be a gift from India for renovating the Flagstaff House, was staggering and bewildering.

It was, to be frank and direct, a moment of national shame and embarrassment.

For a government that campaigned on a mantra of change, promising to deliver a more competent, progressive and robust leadership that will turn things around for the country, the recourse to alms for something as simple and cheap as the renovation of the presidential palace is sad and disappointing, to put it mildly. It is beyond comprehension.

India built the Flagstaff House, in the first place - a sad and shameful development on its own.

Is it right, 10 years on, for us to gleefully and enthusiastically accept another cash gift - a negligible amount for that matter - from the Asian country to renovate it?

And this is a country that spends almost $10 billion annually.

We spend millions of dollars to acquire Land Cruiser V8s for our politicians, but have to rely on alms from other countries to renovate our seat of government?

It's a shame, and this country deserves better.

God help us.