Ghana cannot be built in a day. Nation-building is a continuous process that requires patience, discipline, sacrifice, responsible leadership, political tolerance and the collective effort of citizens.
The developed countries many Ghanaians admire today did not reach their present levels within four or eight years. The United States, Germany, Britain and other advanced nations passed through generations of economic difficulties, political disagreements, social upheavals and institutional reforms before reaching where they are today.
Ghana’s journey cannot be different.
This does not mean Ghanaians should accept poor leadership or use patience as an excuse for underperformance. Rather, we must understand that genuine national transformation takes time while continuously demanding results, accountability and responsible governance.
Development Is a Process, Not an Event
Every Ghanaian understandably wants good roads, quality healthcare, better schools, affordable housing, reliable electricity and water, employment opportunities and an economy in which ordinary families can live comfortably.
These are legitimate expectations.
However, problems accumulated over decades cannot realistically disappear within a few months or even during one government’s term of office.
President John Dramani Mahama and his administration should therefore be given a fair opportunity to implement their policies and development programmes.
Giving the government time does not mean giving it a blank cheque.
Where progress is made, let us acknowledge it. Where mistakes occur, let us criticise constructively. Where public resources are misused, let us demand accountability. And where policies are failing, let us demand better alternatives.
Patience and accountability can—and must—exist together.
Ghana Is Bigger Than NDC and NPP
One of the greatest obstacles to our development is excessive political partisanship.
Almost every national issue is quickly reduced to NDC versus NPP.
A road constructed by one administration is called an NDC road. A hospital started by another becomes an NPP hospital. A policy is sometimes opposed not necessarily because it is bad, but because it came from the other political party.
This mentality must change.
Public projects are financed largely with resources belonging to Ghana and its people. They should therefore be treated as Ghanaian projects.
When a new government abandons a useful project simply because it was initiated by its predecessor, Ghana loses money, time and opportunities.
Governments will change, but Ghana remains.
Our Constitution Gives Responsibilities to Government and Citizens
The 1992 Constitution reminds us that political authority ultimately belongs to the people. Article 1(1) states that Ghana’s sovereignty resides in the people and that governmental power is exercised in their name and for their welfare.
That places an enormous responsibility on every government.
Political power is not the personal property of the NDC, NPP, a President, Minister or Member of Parliament. It is temporarily entrusted to elected leaders to improve the welfare of the people.
But citizens also have constitutional responsibilities.
Article 41 calls upon citizens, among other duties, to foster national unity, promote the prestige and good name of Ghana, protect public property and expose the misuse and waste of public funds.
Therefore, nation-building cannot be the government’s responsibility alone.
Government officials, opposition parties, traditional leaders, religious leaders, journalists, businesspeople, civil society and ordinary citizens all have roles to play.
Supporting Ghana Does Not Mean Supporting Every Government Decision
Patriotism should never be confused with blind political loyalty.
Supporting Ghana does not mean agreeing with everything President Mahama does.
Likewise, criticising the government does not make someone unpatriotic.
A mature democracy should allow a citizen to say:
“Mr President, you are doing well here, but you need to improve there.”
That is constructive citizenship.
The opposition also has an indispensable constitutional and democratic role. It must scrutinise government policies, question expenditure, expose wrongdoing and present credible alternatives.
But opposition should not become deliberate obstruction, misinformation or an attempt to make a government fail simply because its failure may improve another party’s electoral chances.
If a government fails, ordinary Ghanaians ultimately suffer.
Let Us Give President Mahama’s Government a Fair Chance
President Mahama’s administration deserves sufficient time to implement the programme on which it has asked Ghanaians to judge it.
Positive developments should be encouraged regardless of our political affiliation.
At the same time, the government must understand that asking Ghanaians for patience carries responsibilities. It must demonstrate transparency, competence and measurable progress. It must fight corruption, protect public resources and communicate honestly with citizens.
Giving development a chance therefore does not mean telling Ghanaians to remain silent.
It means allowing good policies enough time to work while maintaining pressure for accountability and results.
Development Must Reach Every Ghanaian
National development must never depend on which political party a community supports.
Whether a region votes overwhelmingly for the NDC, NPP or another political party, the people living there remain Ghanaians.
Roads, schools, hospitals, water, electricity, sanitation and economic opportunities should therefore be distributed according to national need and development priorities—not political reward or punishment.
Our political differences should never become a barrier to national development.
Citizens Also Have Work to Do
We cannot demand a developed Ghana while refusing to change behaviours that undermine development.
We cannot demand clean cities while throwing rubbish into gutters.
We cannot demand quality public infrastructure while vandalising public property.
We cannot condemn corruption while offering bribes whenever it benefits us personally.
We cannot demand better public services while encouraging the misuse of public resources.
And we cannot demand national unity while spreading misinformation, tribal hatred and unnecessary political hostility.
Building Ghana is everyone’s responsibility.
Let Us Stop Treating Ghana Like a Football Match
Politics should be a competition of ideas, not permanent warfare.
When food prices rise, hardship does not ask whether you are NDC or NPP.
When a young graduate cannot find employment, unemployment does not ask for a party membership card.
When someone urgently needs medical treatment, sickness does not care which political party built the hospital.
And when Ghana’s economy grows, the opportunities created can benefit citizens across political divisions.
When Ghana succeeds, Ghanaians succeed. When Ghana fails, we suffer together.
Moment of Wisdom
Ghana cannot be built in a day.
But that statement should never become an excuse for governments to underperform.
Instead, it should remind us that sustainable development requires patience with accountability, continuity with innovation, political competition with tolerance, and leadership with responsibility.
Let the government govern.
Let the opposition scrutinise.
Let Parliament perform its constitutional duties.
Let the Judiciary remain independent.
Let the media investigate responsibly.
And let citizens demand accountability while contributing positively to the country.
Above everything else:
LET GHANA WIN. 🇬🇭
NDC governments will come and go.
NPP governments will come and go.
Presidents will come and go.
Members of Parliament will come and go.
But Ghana will remain.
Let us criticise without destroying. Let us disagree without becoming enemies. Let us support what is good regardless of who initiated it, and let us condemn what is wrong regardless of who committed it.
Ghana cannot be built in a day—but Ghana can be built, if we build it together.
God bless our homeland Ghana,
And make our nation great and strong.
Moment of Wisdom — Time for Wisdom.
✍️ Apostle Michael Asabere — The Only Living Saint
