By: Boadi, Nicholas

As I was growing up in my village, I saw a good sense of oneness and unity of purpose among my village folks. Our odikuro would sanction a communal labour and everybody would gladly want to be part of it. The building of our community schools, community health post, community library, the chief's palace, town halls e.t.c. back in the days were done by the indigenes and citizens of the land. But what do we see today?

Inflation of prices of government projects is the order of the day. Corruption in every facet of our lives is threatening our very existence as a nation. People are no longer passionate about the *Ghana Project.* Everybody thinks of how to exploit the other. Most politicians do not have the country at heart. They think of what they can benefit from Ghana and not what Ghana must benefit from them.

It is however refreshing that Nana Addo has shown his commitment that public service must be strictly public service and not for personal gains and has admonished his appointees to think Ghana first in all they do. Most times, the leaders we have as our Presidents do have the country at heart and want to serve us well but the "greedy bastards" they use as their appointees sometimes disappoint the whole country. As Niccolo Machiavelli rightly put it, "The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the people he has surrounded himself with."

I therefore would want to entreat all the ministers and their deputies whose nomination has attracted public outcry against Nana Addo because of the supposed 'large number', as well as all government appointees to live up to expectation for their incorruptible leader, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo and Ghana at large to succeed.

*Now, to my fellow citizens of Ghana, I want us all to live in a country where the following would be completely alien to us:*

1. Backbiting 2. Bootlicking 3. Sycophancy 4. Unhealthy competition 5. Unforgiving spirit 6. Sowing seed of discord 7. Antagonism 8. Gossip 9. Discrimination 10. Vile propaganda against political actors 11. Abusive Language on one another 12. Bickering 13. Despondency 14. Corruption 15. Nepotism 16. Rabble rousing 17. Spectatorship 18. Tribalism 19. Religious intolerance etc.

Ghanaians should rather have the following characteristics:

1. Teamwork 2. Volunteerism 3. Patriotism 4. Love for one another 5. Unity of purpose 6. Civic Participation 7. Peaceful Atmosphere 8. Commitment to one another's course 9. Mutual support 10. Forgiveness 11. Citizens with good sense of humour 12. Understanding 13. Equal treatment 14. Fairness 15. Active Citizenry 16. Accommodating heart 17. Reconciliation 18. The spirit of "I am because you are" and above all, 19. The love of God

Please, these together make up the 'Ghana Project' that we must all promote if we want Ghana to really work again. I will play my part as an active citizen, what about you?

Let's together sing this song:

Arise Ghana youth for your country, The nation demands your devotion, Let us all unite to uphold her, And make her great and strong. We are all involved, 3x— In building our motherland.

Choooooooboooiiiiiiiii!!!

Nicholas Boadi Founder and Leader, Ghana in Action for Progress (GAP)