A Visit to Ghana, My Country

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By Archie Bonka

Archie Bonka, one of our contributors, recently visited his home country - Ghana - after donkey years abroad. He writes about his opinion on that visit and urges Ghanaian policymakers to ensure that the newly found resource becomes a blessing rather than a curse on the former Gold Coast nation

After globetrotting, there comes a time one must return to one's root. It may be for a visit, or for good; either way it needs adequate preparation. In my own case however, it was impromptu because it was the sudden death of my elder sister that compelled me - after over two decades - to finally make an attempt to go home.  I had to accompany her corpse from London where she resided to Ghana.

I was filled with sorrow and excitement to rediscover the continent especially my home country, Ghana. A six hour-journey from UK was smooth. I was greeted by the tropical humidity upon my arrival at 11.30 pm at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

I must confess that emotion overwhelmed me, for I had to bend down to kiss the land I had left for so long. Other passengers were stunned because they thought it was weird.

A week after the funeral of my sister in Akuse, my village which is about a hundred kilometers from the capital in the Greater Accra region, I decided to stay in Tema, Ghana's industrial city to further explore and rediscover my country.

Nothing big has changed in terms of infrastructures apart from small areas of Accra which appears slightly dignified for a country of 53 years of self-rule. There is population explosion in the city due to migration adding to already unemployment rate in the city thereby creating an uncontrollable hawkers in every corner of the already choked city. The economy is not doing bad though as inflation is in its single digit.

The so called essential but scarce commodities seems to be a thing of the past, because you can get whatever you need without sweat. The middle class has started growing and our currency is getting stronger. I must say that the day of living on a dollar a day is over in part because of the prices of good and services in the market. 

Also, schools and private universities are springing up rapidly while private housing projects are booming but infrastructures on governmental level is nothing to talk about.

Well, sanitation and discipline which Ghanaians are known to pride themselves on are no longer there as the whole city is littered due to lack of culture of maintenance. On the other hand, the newly found press freedom and freedom of speech in our young democracy is something to cheer.

Finally, the people need to know the value of empathy. I mean making life easier for fellow citizens. I believe passionately that only empathy filled citizens can make the much needed difference for development. And then the newly discovery oil will grease many elbows in pushing the country and the continent forward.