Ghana 🇬🇭 @ 66

On March 6th, 1957, Ghana your beloved country was free forever. It was freed from colonial rule by the late Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He fought hard for the Gold Coast to achieve independence; total emancipation from the British colonizers. He renamed the Gold Coast to Ghana. It was declared an independent nation on March 6th, 1957. Fast forward 66 years later to March 6th, 2023 and we are remembering what he did on that very day. His achievement can never be forgotten or taken away from him.

Today in Ghana, we are dealing with power outages, high inflation and depreciation of the Ghana cedi. Ghana’s economy is run according to the U.S. dollar rate, which causes prices of things in town to fluctuate at a very unstable and peculiar rates. The average Ghanaian can’t afford to live under these conditions. Everything has gone up but their salaries or profits in their business. How do they cope or manage? Ghanaians are entrepreneurial and hardworking by nature, so they’ll find ways and means of surviving and providing regardless.

What has Ghana acheived after 66 years of independence? Can we pinpoint Ghana’s achievements so easily or struggle to make mention of them? Yes, Ghana has thrived in terms of tourism. Foreigners, namely American actors and actresses are sworming to Ghana in their numbers. Everyone wants to go to the Cape Coast Slave Dungeon. It’s a historical monument that has been maintained over the years, and has been used to teach people the history of the slave trade. It depicts a time when a great injustice was done to mankind. Ghana has been applauded by the west for engaging tourists as they tour this particular place.

Ghana brought on board the Year of Return. Now many Black people in the diaspora can trace their ancestry or lineage to Ghana. People want to explore their roots and know where they originally come from. Ghana took this initiative under His Excellency the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo. Ghana has also managed to be the gateway to Africa in terms of trade, business and partnerships. People in the western world see Ghana as a place to do business, as a place to invest. So investors have brought their money to Ghana to invest it in various industries or businesses.

Ghana’s food has made it to the forefront. Ghana’s jollof rice has sparked a rivalry with a fellow, neighboring African country called Nigeria that also eats jollof. There has been a debate about which jollof tastes better. Since I’m Ghanaian American, I’ll naturally go with Ghanaian jollof. I would have to be bias, although I do like Naija jollof also. I love Ghanaian food in general. Ghanaians have traveled abroad in droves and many have opened supermarkets and restaurants. So when you’re in a place like New Jersey, you still somehow feel right at home. Jersey has a lot of Ghanaians here.

Home is where the heart is they say. Ghana has succeeded in making everyone feel at home that comes here. Ghana has probably given people more citizenships, visas than other nation. Ghana has let the world taste its Azonto dance. It was trending for a minute. Ghana has been known for peace. Ghana has had a reputation for being a peaceful country. Ghana has never had a war before. Ghana is full of tranquility. Ghana is where the peace is in the entire world. Ghana, I don’t live there but I love Ghana. I’m pro Ghana. Listening to the greats like Daddy Lumba, Kojo Antwi, Ofori Amponsah, will have you remembering that there’s no place like Ghana.

Ghana at 66 is full of negatives than positives. Ghana at 66 still has corruption, high unemployment, jobs with inadequate pay, high inflation, apartments or flats for rent without a toilet; no indoor plumbing in many accommodations in this 21st Century. Ghana has armed robbery, inconsistent running water and unaffordable, unrealistic, high rent that must be paid 1 to 2 years or more in advance. Ghana, you still unfortunately have a long way to go, but we love you as you are.