Why 2004 was a year of watershed in our nation?s history

The above question can only be answered in the year 2020 when the future generations look back at the year 2004 and how the nation?s future was mapped.

The reason why I ask the above question and left the answer for our sons and daughters to answer in the year 2020 was quite simple. The year 2004 in question saw nations that were once authoritarian embraced democracies and/or market led strategies. From China to Georgia market reforms took hold as countries restructured their economies to take advantage of the Information technology that was driving force behind these reforms.

In Ghana, for the first time in living memory, subjects that were once taboo or people pay tip service to were freely debated on the internet, thanks to our own brother and compatriot Francis Akoto of Ghana Web for affording us that opportunity.

Among the hot topics that came to the fore were the following:

• Corruption
• Tribalism
• Language issue
• Democracy (Election 2004)
• Development/Economy

Almost all topics discussed revolved around either of the above (Dagbon, the Fante Vote, Ashantihene and Akyemhene?s role in national development). Some of the discussions generated angry and/or positive response from compatriots all around the world. Yet as one people we all agreed that by peacefully organising elections and the maturity shown by our political leaders in gracefully accepting the outcome of the results marked us out of coming of age. Despite our disagreements on various issues we all agreed that the development of the homeland is paramount and became a shared dream.

The corruption debate (and the blatant abuse of power by those in authority) started by our brothers Professor Kwaku Asare and Guy Foxx touched some raw nerves and generated a lot of support for them. Our brother J.A.Fukuor (as usual) grace the pages with his informative and educative letters from the President. The Ya-Naa?s murder and Kwesi Prempeh?s One Language debated also generated a lot of interest, including a very educative rejoinder from our brother Ed Benni. Contributions from various commentators on the topics this author listed above were all positive and hope the policy makers in Ghana would learn more from this.

This author believes 2004 would be seen by future generations as a landmark year in our nation?s history. As one people under the banner of the Black Star we resolve to put the development interest of the country before self in 2004. Among the class of countries that gained their Independence some 50 years ago and were seen as promising, Ghana is the only one left with still classified as a poor country. The urgency shown by all to help achieve rapid development and raise our people from poverty is promising. One article that caught my eye was ? Strategies for Sustainable Development ? Part I? by our brother Samuel Antwi-Buadum.

The question to be ask is: Have we got a coherent policies in place to achieve Sustainable Development in 2020?