By Isaac Fritz Andoh
Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Stephen Ntim, a Lecturer in Psychology of Education at the Catholic University College at Fiapre, Sunyani, says without consistent and persistent efforts to correct shortcomings in our society “all the noise that we have been making about Ghana at fifty will come to naught.
“We need to take stock of our past and present, especially within the context of our socio-economic development and our achievements since independence.
Fr. Ntim stated that without consistent and persistent efforts, as a nation towards the eradication of poverty (in all its forms); unemployment, the promotion of the rule of law and fundamental respect for the individual all the noise, “that we have been making about Ghana at fifty will come to naught.”
He stated these in a serialized article to The Standard from a recent talk to the Kumasi Province branch of the Pax Romana Alumni of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Fr. Ntim said inspite of the edges to straighten up “in our socio-political emancipation,” Ghana has a compelling reason to celebrate its Golden Jubilee.
He said irrespective “of our political philosophy and persuasion, Ghanaians have not gone so far as to degenerate to the brink of civil war,” apart from the few ethnic clashes up-North.
He added, “we need to do more to arrest the unfortunate perennial clashes once and for all.”
In his article, Fr. Ntim looked among other things, at fifty years of nationhood and the prospects and challenges – the Biblical theological roots of Jubilee celebrations and an overview of the past and present of Ghana's socio-economic development.
He said as a secular nation, but also committed to religious ideals, the celebration of “our fifty years as a nation, also has deep biblical theological connotations and not just a political event.”
On challenges, Fr. Ntim said the first challenge that faces Ghanaians “is that we have to do more to grow our economy, which is heavily dependent on external sources.”
The second challenge is that we need to make consistent efforts to change some colonial economic structures such as, growing raw materials – cocoa, coffee and add value to these products.
Thirdly, he said Ghanaians need to change their attitude towards public work, but all these, presuppose a congenial, peaceful and stable environment.
As a nation, “we need to hold the bull by the horn, and fight against declining moral values, the needless infatuation with negative western values, and the consequent eroding of our cultural norms, especially in the case of our youth.”
On the way forward, Fr. Ntim said, the political leadership and authority need to be aware that it is first and foremost accountable to the people.
All efforts, he said, needed to be made to ensure that ordinary Ghanaian man or woman on the street, can meet his/her basic necessities: food, shelter, clothing, and can afford basic education for his/her children.
“We must not just be interested in economic statistics of low inflation rates and low interest rates.”
Fr. Ntim said one of the most serious deformities of the democratic system is political corruption.
Corruption in all its forms compromises the correct functioning of the State, having negative influence on the relationships between those who govern and the governed.
It causes a growing distrust of public institutions; thus, the canker of corruption,” as much as we can, must be brought to the very minimum in our politics.”
More News... |
