Safeguarding a Nation's Future: Preserving Sovereignty and Prosperity
Story of a Man's Astounding Discovery
Once upon a time, a fellow ventured from a developing country to a more prosperous one in search of a brighter future. Upon arrival, he was blindsided to find no one managing the local milk shop. Customers took what they needed from the refrigerator, paid the exact amount, and went on their way. Neither milk nor money was secured. This would never fly back home, he mused.
But what left him more bewildered than the self-serve milk dispenser was the price discrepancy. The milk here was cheaper, even though his homeland boasted an overwhelming number of milking cows compared to its residents. How on earth was this possible? Then, it clicked. The lower price excluded the additional expenditures caused by dishonesty and larceny.
In his homeland, refrigerators and cash boxes would require protective locks. Workers were needed to handle purchases, alongside security personnel and costly CCTV cameras. On top of that, there were added logistic and utility costs due to inefficient or unreliable systems. It all added up, reflected in the high price of a humble bottle of milk.
What his country lacked in cultural values, it paid dearly in terms of economic value, or in simpler terms, a higher cost of living compared to prosperous nations.
The Merchant's Money Talk
A nation's power and long-lasting strength stem from its people and their values. These values set the standards for what's deemed good and important, shaping behavior in all aspects of life. If we examine modern-day Ghana in this light, we might be left wanting.
Greed and selfishness. Materialism and avarice. These are the pervasive values in our society. So, I thought it pertinent to shed light on the commercial costs of these pernicious values. My hope is that even those who prioritize money and material possessions above all else, including the common societal values enshrined in our national anthem and pledge, will come to understand that upholding genuine values like service and integrity will yield greater financial gains.
Warren Buffet, one of the world's wealthiest men and an astute investor, advises leaders to search for three qualities in potential job candidates: intelligence, drive, and integrity-but he stresses that integrity should take center stage. According to Buffet, a worker devoid of integrity can be a ticking time bomb, causing significant losses due to lack of trust.
We take it for granted that we can trust the opacity of a tin of milk, pouring its contents without a second thought. We rely on regulatory bodies, manufacturers, and the entire supply chain. A former colleague and senior manager at a perishable goods company once shared that the company would discard entire batches of products if there was the slightest hint of compromised quality, as the potential damage to their brand reputation would be far more costly in the long run than the temporary loss incurred by the honest act.
Values at the Root of a Nation
It's easy to envision a nation as a mighty oak tree, sprouted from small drops of values accumulated at the individual, family, organizational, and sectoral levels. This, I've long thought, is how I see Ghana-a nation enriched with cultural and social values worth emulating.
Growing up in the early '90s, I witnessed the devastation of neighboring countries, such as Liberia and Sierra Leone, by war. Refugees poured into Ghana, and their temporary living conditions in tents left me despondent. I've always been grateful to have been born in a land of peace in a time of turmoil.
But war isn't the only threat to a nation. Internal decadence can also devastate a country through a lack of shared values. I fear Ghana is heading that way. I see it everywhere. We've swung from a focus on people and principles to money and possessions in a matter of generations. My grandpa, for one, placed little value on wealth or material goods. Can we say the same anymore?
Money and materialism have become the driving force behind our society, even at the expense of our lives and the welfare of future generations. Consider the harmful activities of illegal mining (galamsey), brazen corruption in politics, dishonest practices in education, modern online scams blended with traditional African rituals (sakawa), food vendors using tainted water to cook, expired medicine being sold, or even worse, outright fakes... I could go on.
Constructing the Ghana We Dream of, Grounded in Values that Matter
I fear that in our rush to catch up with the industrialized world, we might be neglecting the essential foundations of our society. For instance, education in STEM subjects is being touted as the cure-all for our problems. But what good is STEM without roots? STEM or any knowledge must develop from a strong network of shared social and cultural values and norms. Otherwise, lives are lost, infrastructure collapses, funds are mismanaged, and justice is denied.
Ghana is at a crossroads, not just economically, but also culturally. The economic costs of our values should not be overlooked. Thankfully, influential Ghanaians are discussing this issue.
Earlier this year, the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), based in Accra and founded by Dr. K.Y. Amoako-a Ghanaian, organized a gathering at the Peduase Valley Resort for over 50 civic and political stakeholders. The topic of conversation was the upcoming launch of "The Compact for Ghana's Political and Economic Transformation."
A roadmap for a stronger democracy and lasting economic prosperity, the Compact offers a hopeful approach because it focuses on strengthening our shared values. I attended the Peduase Valley retreat, and the need for integrity as a core value was discussed extensively. It was emphasized that the quest for Ghana's economic and political transformation is all but futile unless it's built on a profound shift in our attitudes and values.
Indeed, discussions concerning our national anthem, pledge, and the lyrics of 'Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni'-written nearly a century ago by Dr. Ephraim Amu, one of our national founders-shone a light on values such as honesty, selflessness, hard work, and loyalty. These values must persist if we're to realize a prosperous Ghana grounded in values that count.
These conversations should continue in Ghana. Above all, the all-encompassing value of integrity needs to permeate every layer of our society if we're to build a Greater Ghana founded on values that matter, rather than ones that sap our strength.
Although less dramatic, the gradual erosion of our shared values could certainly bring down Ghana without explosion or gunfire. "Whether or not this nation prospers," goes the powerful anthem from Dr. Amu, "clearly depends on the character of the citizens of the nation."
- The development of a nation's education system, particularly in STEM subjects, must be rooted in strong social and cultural values to foster genuine progress.
- The report on the economic costs of pervasive values like greed and selfishness in Ghana suggests a need for a shift towards integrity and service, as emphasized in discussions at the African Centre for Economic Transformation.
- To construct the Ghana we dream of, it is crucial to focus on education and self-development, bolstered by the integration of essential values like honesty, hard work, and loyalty, as evident in 'Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni', a national anthem written by Dr. Ephraim Amu.
