Nation building: The role of every citizen

According to market business news.com, nation building means creating a country that functions out of a non-functioning one – either because the old one has been destroyed in a war, has fallen apart, or never really worked properly. Nation building and national development are initiatives much cherished by every patriotic citizen, whether of party A or part B.

This ardent desire of citizens for sustainable national development has always brought every president post independence under siege, leading to the formation of various vigilante groups, with its most recent, “Fix the country" campaigners.

However, it is an indisputable fact that nation building requires the collective effort of everyone. The president and his subordinates have their role to play in ensuring a sustainable national development. And the role of fellow citizens cannot also be overlooked.

The role of our leaders are always overemphasised, leaving out the role of citizens. But one fact all and sundry must know is that the leader today was once an ordinary citizen like everyone today, and as the saying goes, “charity begins at home.” Today’s patriots will irrefutably become the leaders tomorrow. Today’s ‘corrupt’ leaders were yesterday‘s patriotic watchdogs and active leaders of vigilante groups.

Quoting from ‘The gods are not to blame’, the question is, “When rain falls on the leopard, does it wash off its spots?” Perhaps, in our part of the world, “the richness of kingly life has the tendency to wash off the love and patriotism of our leaders for their people.” The nauseating aspect is that most of these ballsy anti-corruption campaigners are only fighting for their selfish gains and not for the love of the country.

The system in our country is too corrupt from top of the hierarchy to the bottom to the extent that every citizen is always looking for ways to beat the system.
Come to think of it: The ministers are accused of signing contracts and making deals with unscrupulous persons for their personal gains. The MPs and DCEs are accused of embezzlement of funds and questionable terms and conditions of state contracts. The judge is accused of taking bribes to pervert judgement in court.

The lawyer is accused of taking undue money from clients to defend lies. The police and military officials in charge of recruitment are accused of taking bribes to recruit applicants. The MTTD and DVLA personnel are accused of taking bribes without proper vehicle roadworthy assessment. The school management as well as administration is accused of taking bribes to admit students with ‘protocol’ at the disadvantage of the poor student who was legally qualified and had his/her placement in the school.

The teacher is accused of leaking exams questions in order to have amorous affairs with female students, and also accused of taking undue money from students to abet cheating students to get exams questions, for extra classes, and handouts. The school gateman is accused of taking gifts from students to allow them sneak out of campus. The school cook is accused of stealing ingredients meant for the students to prepare food for their families at home. The senior student is accused of forcefully extorting money and from freshers to secure bed for them.

The external and internal auditors are accused of taking bribes and gifts to render inaccurate reports on corrupt practices at various workplaces. The doctor is accused of referring patients to their private clinics to charge them exorbitantly.

The pharmacist is accused of taking money from NHIS insured customers for drugs covered by the policy and later go for the money from the NHIS office. The nurse and midwife are accused of not working with commitment at state institutions as compared to their attitude at private hospitals. The businessman is accused of adding more zeros. The market woman is accused of melting candle inside measuring cans to dupe unsuspecting customers.

The driver together with his mate is accused of charging passengers undue fares and failure to give back to passengers their change. The farmer is accused of applying harmful and life-threatening chemicals to food crops for better yields and income. The landlord is accused of illegally forcing tenants to vacate their rooms for new tenants ready to pay more money while the occupants’ time is not due. What puts us at the nadir of our hopes is that our spokespersons, the press, is accused of receiving money and gifts from politicians to hide the truth from citizens!

What a great disservice to our beloved country Ghana!!
Where stand the vigilante group leaders and their members? Now show us, who is corrupt?
Ghana, a country with corrupt leaders and corrupt citizens.

One might justify oneself that the corruption seen among the grass-root citizens is relatively negligible and normal to that of the leaders. But these are the same people who become brainwashed from their anti corruption ideologies immediately they assume power.

The leaders today citizens are vigorously protesting against started the same way you have started: lateness to work, bribery, wasting and using working hours for private selfish businesses, cheating customers, poor sanitation practices, etc.

To effect the change the country needs, change your attitude today for a better Ghana tomorrow. If today’s youth cultivate the spirit of honesty and loyalty, discipline, and not sheer patriotism borne out of a desire to get favour or fill their bellies in the next regime, then without any shadow of doubt, Ghana has a brighter future of self reliance.

Angels are not coming from any place to lead us tomorrow, you will be, I will be, so LET US BE THE CHANGE TODAY WE WANT TO SEE TOMORROW as we keep walking the walk and talking the talk till the system begins to work for all!

So help us God.

“Whosoever knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is evil”— James 4:17