5 things Ghana must consider after 66 years of independence

Ghana recently celebrated 66 years of independence from British colonial rule. Over the last 66 years, the country has made significant progress but there is still much work to be done to achieve its full potential. Here are five key things that must be done to transform Ghana in the next decade:

Invest in Education: the future of Ghana, just like any other country in the world depends on the quality of its education system. Despite the implementation of several education policies and the expansion of access, quality remains a key driver in every education system and determines the calibre of products made from the training institutions. The government of Ghana must therefore, prioritize investing in enhancing the quality of education to ensure that every child has access to quality education from primary school through to tertiary education. This investment should include training and retaining highly qualified teachers, providing access to modern educational resources and technologies, motivating teachers and facilitators, and building new schools in underserved areas.

Boost the Economy: Ghana has a largely young and growing population, which presents an opportunity for economic growth. To maximize the potential of the population, the government must focus on creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurship and innovation, investing in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology, and developing the country’s infrastructure to support economic growth.

Prioritize Healthcare: Access to quality healthcare is essential for any nation’s development. Ghana must prioritize investing in its healthcare system by building and equipping modern hospitals, training and retaining highly skilled healthcare workers, and ensuring that essential medicines are available and affordable. Yes, significant progress has been made in relations to building new and modern health facilities and the improvement of the National Health Insurance Scheme but much needs to be done in terms of investment to open access. Mental health and other less talked about diseases need to be considered properly under any health investment module to ensure total coverage.

Preserve the Environment: Ghana must protect its natural resources and biodiversity by promoting sustainable land use practices. The protection of forests and wildlife must be key in the governments environmental policies. Mining is one huge income source for the government but there must be stringent regulations to ensure that mining and other extractive industries in the country operate in an environmentally responsible manner. The country’s water bodies must be secured for the next generations and efforts must be made to minimize plastic pollutions.

Improve Governance: Of all the things Ghana should do to ensure the next decade is better than now, governance must be top of all. It is the center of all that goes in and out of the country and a failed governance system means doom. Corruption, inefficiencies in government institutions and unnecessary beaureaucracies will contribute to erode the gains made in other areas. Ghana must thus improve governance by ensuring that public institutions are transparent, accountable, and responsive to citizens’ needs. This includes strengthening the rule of law, improving the justice system, and fighting corruption at all levels of government.

Ghana has the potential to be a leader in Africa and a global model for all nations but must first receive significant investment and commitment from its leaders and citizens. By investing in education, boosting the economy, prioritizing healthcare, improving governance, and preserving the environment, Ghana can transform itself into a prosperous and thriving nation. The next decade is critical, and every Ghanaian must play their part in making this vision a reality.