By Dr. Nana Sifa Twum, Media & Communications Consultant
As the year 2021 appeared to be coming to an end, there was huge anticipation for what the next year 2022 was going to offer. For both who did well and those who were not satisfied with their own aspirations and achievements, more could have been made to meet heart desires. Governments, institutions and individuals took time to reflect on their performance during the year 2021 and made new plans and resolutions for the new year. Frankly speaking, let us ask ourselves what is new about the new year as individuals and people. Why do we have so much hope in all ensuing years even when we have not prepared adequately for it forgetting that our hard work or otherwise today determines the easy or difficult life we face in the future.
Getting to midnight, there was much apprehension and anticipation among many people around the globe. Yes, we all look forward to a new year and rightly so, it is a biblical and global tradition. From the Bible we read. “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you” (Exodus 12:2) but I ask what’s new about the new year. At the stroke of midnight of 31st December, when it is believed to be the start of the new year (though it should start from sunset as per the dictates of the Bible), there were much apprehension and anticipation among many people around the globe. All were looking forward to a new year. In Ghana, the usual Church services heralding the new year were held across the nation. Church members from there joined others at the pubs and other social events to continue the new year’s welcoming sessions.
The primary motivation for such joyous moments for people in anticipation of the new year has still not been properly unraveled.
At the start of the new year, everything under the sun continues to be what it is.
No physical nor tangible change is noticed anywhere. The sky was still blue.
The road leading to our houses was just where they were. Our homes were at the same places. Skin colors haven’t changed. In fact, everything is just as it is except for those we decide to change, for example, the calendars, which obviously are man-made and then room settings and decorations. These and other reasons are why the question “what is new about the new year ?” is critically important. For many as a people, it can only be new if and only if we decide to live new lives in attitude and behavior. Newness comes from within the one looking up for the new. From the Bible- the source of a new year- we read, “And He was also telling them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. Newness is the quality of being utterly different from the present or the original past., We cannot continue to live in the old ways and expect anything new. Newness comes out of new ways of life.
In this new year, please “If we were not charitable or do not love, we need to learn to do that. We must begin to be joyful, peaceful and patient if we are not. We need to begin to be kind and good to others, learn to develop strong faith and can-do attitude, live a very modest lifestyle, and exercise much self-control if we had previously. Newness comes from attitude and our hard work towards what we want to be new. The old-style and attitude towards each other, towards work, towards the environment which did not help in any way to ensure progress and development must stop. For us to experience a new year as we wish for ourselves, we must eschew apathy, truancy and lateness at work to make the new year really new. Government must honour its promises to the populace, Members of parliament must stop exchanging blows, the chiefs must stop indiscriminately and illegally selling the lands. The prophets must stop delivering the false prophecies, and our drivers must stop the careless and dangerous driving on our roads. The security personnel and the judiciary must ensure justice security for all. We all must stop polluting the environment as well as having respect for each other. We must exhibit infectious enthusiasm for work and be consciously committed to the country. As we begin working officially for the first time this year, we need new attitudes, approaches and commitment towards all our endeavors as a people to really and truly experience the new year.