Born in 1948 during Ghana’s struggle for independence, I witnessed the pivotal event that led to our nation’s freedom. As a young pupil, I celebrated our independence with pride, entering a new era under Nkrumah’s leadership. Despite early progress in education, infrastructure, and state enterprises, political oppression, economic downturn, and a personality cult around Nkrumah led to his overthrow in 1966.

The subsequent military rule (1973-1983) became a “lost decade,” marked by a 40% fall in real GDP per capita. Transitioning to civilian rule in 1983, Rawlings brought significant changes to Ghana, including shifts in education, local government, and a constitution for the Fourth Republic.

The Kufuor administration, benefiting from HIPC relief, achieved economic growth and introduced social interventions. However, subsequent administrations faced challenges, with the Mahama presidency marked by double-digit growth fueled by oil revenues. Despite progress, governance issues persisted, including the rejection of constitutional changes.

In recent years, the Akuffo Addo administration showed promise in vision setting, economic management, and flagship programs. However, challenges such as corruption, unemployment, and the Beyond Aid initiative’s uphill task remain. The government’s efforts to tackle galamsey and reduce the size of the government are acknowledged, but unemployment and economic sustainability need attention.Looking forward, I emphasize the importance of appreciating our country while addressing governance and leadership challenges urgently. Seven key areas requiring attention include attitudes, Covid management and impact, building strong institutions, tackling unemployment, fighting corruption, out-of-the-box economic management, and effective leadership.