Ghana’s future depends on continuity of development direction – President Mahama
Ghana’s long-term development will require successive leaders to maintain a consistent national development direction and build on progress made by previous administrations, President John Dramani Mahama has said.
He said the transformation of Ghana could not be achieved by one person or within a single administration, stressing that sustained progress would depend on successive generations of leaders continuing to advance the country’s development agenda.
President Mahama made the observation when he interacted with members of the Ghanaian community in New York, where he reflected on Ghana’s 70-year journey as an independent nation and expressed confidence in the country’s future.
He said although Ghana had not yet reached its desired level of development, the country could now see a clear direction and prospects for achieving its long-term aspirations.
“We are not there yet, but after 70 years of independence, we can see the direction and the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
President Mahama said maintaining the direction in which the country was moving would be necessary for Ghana to realise its potential and achieve the vision held by its forebears.
“If we just keep going in this direction, I believe that Ghana would become one of the greatest countries in Africa, which our forebears intended it to,” he said.
He stressed that national development should not be treated as the responsibility of one individual or administration, but as a continuing process that requires successive leaders to build on what has already been achieved.
“No one person can do it,” President Mahama said, noting that he had a mandate from the people of Ghana which he was committed to honouring.
He said other leaders would come after him and would also have a responsibility to continue pushing the country in the direction of development.
President Mahama explained that continuity in national development was necessary to ensure that Ghana’s progress was sustained beyond individual presidential terms.
He said successive governments must therefore contribute to a broader national objective rather than viewing development solely within the period of their respective mandates.
The President expressed confidence that sustained commitment to Ghana’s development direction could position the country among the next emerging countries in Africa and the wider world.
“I believe that Ghana will be one of the next emerging countries, not only in Africa, but in the world,” he said.
He said Ghana’s development journey over the past 70 years had provided the country with a foundation upon which further progress could be built.
The President also recalled the longstanding tradition of engaging with Ghanaians living abroad, saying such interactions had formed part of efforts to maintain a connection between the country and its citizens in the diaspora.
He said the development of Ghana remained a collective responsibility and required contributions from citizens, leaders and successive generations.
President Mahama maintained that the country’s future would depend not only on the policies and programmes of the government of the day, but also on the willingness of future administrations to sustain efforts that contributed to Ghana’s long-term development.
He said with continuity, commitment and sustained national effort, Ghana could realise the aspirations of its forebears and strengthen its position as an emerging country in Africa and the world.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
