Count down of Ghana’s 50th independent day is few months away and Ghanaians are analyzing the achievement of our independence. We do not need historians or political analysts to point out that the period has been marred with poverty, civil corruption, injustice, dishonesty, military dictatorship, abuse of power and human right, to name a few.
Regardless of the above problems, Ghana continues to enjoy the pride as flamboyant and the pinnacle of African heritage. Maybe this is based on the old adage “the country of the Blind---one eyed person is a giant’ Ghana has been blessed with stability and has been saved from civil wars all over African continent.
Unfortunately, the foreigners who are ignorant of geo-political structure of Africa group all Africans under one country. The hungry looking and disease stricken, skinny Africans are the only image of Africa and this image has been successfully been portrayed to both foreigners and Africans alike. I know a ten year old Ghanaian girl who will call her parents see hungry-looking African on TV “Mammy come and see your people.”
Then was 2006 World Cup. The event became tutorial event for the world geography. Not only the location of Ghana that was pinpointed but also the powerful soccer genus from Africa.
When USA was defeated the whole world jubilated. The invincible has fallen, downed by a tiny African country. In schools in USA where students were hiding their identity as Africans suddenly came ‘out of closet’ One of my junior High School student requested T-shirt with Ghana Emblem. ‘Do you know my father is from Ghana?’ He informed me.
Ghanaian children accepted their identity. My three year old grand daughter took my Ghana cap and never gave it back and one of my eleven year old nieces will dance as as imitation of the players after scoring a goal. This is a peak period of Ghanaian identity/
Where do we go from here? Ghanaian community leaders and parents must capitalize on the situation to instill Ghanaian and Africanism in our children. I give credit to the First Ghanaian Society of New Jersey, the largest Ghanaian community organization in New Jersey. The organization organized Youth Forum immediately after the Word Cup to follow up the spirit of patriotism. Ghanaian communities all over the world must follow New Jersey example. This is the time for parents to teach Ghana national anthem and the pledge (if the parents know themselves)
This is the right time for all diasporas all over the world to organize’ Ghana Day.’ The upcoming 50th Independent day may be used as a starter. The community leaders must involve in local and national politics in the countries they live in.
Our embassies and commissioners must capitalize on this Ghana emerging patriotism. This is the time for promotion of tourism and to expose Ghana to the world. The government must invest in tourism promotion in rich countries. Ghana must spend money on commercials in foreign TV, newspapers and other media. Local Ghanaian companies must be hired for such promotion.
The next Word cup is years away and no-one can predict our qualification. Until then let us capitalize on what golden opportunity 2006 has brought us.
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