Calls For Nationalism To Help Fix The Challenges Bedeviling The Country

NEWS COMMENTARY CALLS FOR NATIONALISM TO HELP FIX THE CHALLENGES BEDEVILING THE COUNTRY.

A couple of months ago, thousands of Ghanaians, largely social media users, called for the fixing of the country. They did this by highlighting some of the hardships Ghanaians are facing. Is it indeed true that Ghanaians are facing hardships? Certainly, yes! But is it right to put all the blame on the current government? Certainly, no! The cry for the fixing of the nation finally turned into a debate between two social media groups.  While a section of Ghanaians, including some Members of Parliament with political lineage to the NPP blamed the current hardships in the country on poor attitude of Ghanaians, the protesters and other Ghanaians also blamed it on political leadership. Which of these two views on the problems of the country got it right or wrong? That could be a difficult question to answer because the protesters who think the political leadership should be held responsible for the problems of the country and the Members of the NPP who are blaming the problems on poor attitude of the people are all Ghanaians. The fixing of Ghana calls for an all-hands-on deck approach hence the need for Ghanaians to cultivate the spirit of nationalism.

According to Professor John Hans’, an eminent historian, ‘Nationalism is the state of the mind where the supreme loyalty of the individual is towards the nation state. It is an ideology based on the premise that the individual’s loyalty and devotion to the nation-state surpass other individual or group interests. A deeper intellectual reflection on Professor Hans’ definition of nationalism shows that citizens are asked by the concept to develop the attitudinal culture of putting the welfare of their states above all other considerations, including their own personal ambitions. Unfortunately, whoever preaches this gospel of nationalism is often abhorred by the majority uninformed Ghanaians. What makes it more serious is the fact that this uninformed Ghanaians may include typical fresh graduates who have acquired tertiary education.

Nonetheless, without the spirit of nationalism efforts of the few in fixing the country will be thwarted by the majority without any sense of patriotism Nationalism is the first most important step required to fix the country because when Ghanaians develop the consciousness of offering their best to ensure the progress of the nation, they will come to realize that its resources are created by all and not the few with the privilege of managing and distributing these resources. Consequently, they will rightly check those who are charged with the responsibility of controlling these resources to manage them well to benefit all.

As it stands now, most Ghanaians do not see the need to give of their best to Ghana because they feel they don’t benefit much from the country. It may not be easy to get all Ghanaians to accept and practice this gospel of nationalism at a goal but it is possible to realize it. To get Ghanaians to develop the spirit of nationalism to move them to offer their best and fight against those who use social platforms for their whimsical and capricious interests, the educated youth must initiate some sort of intellectual revolution now. If the status quo of corruption and poor work ethics among our leaders and citizens is not replaced with the spirit of nationalism, the problems of the youth and Ghanaians at large will remain the norm.  The solution to Ghana’s problems is not in the hands of any political party or incorruptible supper man but rather in the readiness of all Ghanaians to show high sense of love and commitment towards progress of the nation. This will influence others to show patriotism which will go a long way to make the   country secure and more robust.

By Bala Ali, Information Services Department, Accra