The absence of a national identity is the bane of Ghana, Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George has said.
According to him, many Ghanaians lack a proper understanding of Ghana’s values needed to turn the fortunes of the county around.
Speaking on the Traffic Avenue of Tuesday, Sam George said that the missing link between the past and present-day Ghana lies within the doctrines of the country’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
“Ghana needs a national identity. Because we don’t have a national identity, we are swayed by the wind. Ask an American or British what it means to be [the dream of their country] and they know it. Ask a Ghanaian what it means to be a Ghanaian, we just don’t know. We have no identity and because we have no identity, we are tossed by the wind. We used to be the shinning star of Africa, because Nkrumah gave us an identity. There was an indoctrination that made us Ghanaians. Today if you ask any Ghanaian what makes them a Ghanaian, they don’t know – may be corruption,” he said.
Corrupt politicians are a reflection of our society
The legislator believes that what appears to be the corrupt nature of politicians in the country, depicts what the typical Ghanaian society is.
Citing instances where some Ghanaian workers continue to demand money and show utter disregard for laid down procedures, he said such ‘normal’ practices are what generate into higher forms of bribery and corruption at the highest level which political actors have become known for.
He is therefore of the view that it is inaccurate for politicians to be blamed for corruption since the problem is fundamentally deep-rooted in the social fabric.
“We have a beautiful system in the country just that politics is too much. Things that we are to move quickly with, we have to play politics with them. So for instance, if I get to a car park and there is a security man who allows me to park at an authorized place before he asks me to move, I won’t because it’s a dereliction of duty. It happens everywhere, you go to the hospital and the nurses sit there, you need to bribe someone before you get your file or there is someone in an office who wants you to give him money before he gets the work done”, he said on the Traffic Avenue on Tuesday.
“Imagine that person becomes a DCE or a Minister, then he gets a contract, he will have a formula to have his [share]. So you realize we just graduate the culture of corruption. Even when you send kids and there is a change, they ask if you will take it – that’s the culture. So I keep saying that, don’t blame politicians, we are a reflection of the society itself.”
