Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta has indicated that, Ghana will be able to rub shoulders with other developed countries should its citizens renew their minds towards the country’s socio-economic developmental agenda.
According to him, Ghanaians have not been positive enough in the quest to end the over-reliance on external help, aids and grants.
Speaking at an economic forum organised by the Danquah Institute on Friday, Mr. Ofori-Atta said, one of the surest ways, the President’s vision of moving Ghana Beyond Aid, is for the citizenry to take the country at heart and contribute their quota, regardless of their social affiliations.
“The most powerful element needed for social and economic growth, is the right mindset of us as citizens. Our national character is defined by individual attitudes. Reaching the President’s vision of Ghana Beyond Aid requires attitudinal change, one hinged on strong engagement from all of us as agents of our very own development independent of political, social or religious background”, he advised.
‘The Ubuntu Ghanaian’
Mr. Ofori Atta further advised Ghanaians to be guided by the Ubuntu Philosophy for the collective good of the country.
He decried the situation where Ghanaians failed to protect the environment by haphazardly destroying the land, air and water resources.
The Finance Minister said until such a thing is done, Ghana will continue to divert its meagre resources for developmental works in addressing the effects of this improper behaviour.
“At the heart of Ghana, lies a body politic of collective citizen –each a sum of our own experiences. These individual experiences inform and enrich our democratic project whereby each citizen contributes a greater development. Ubuntu’s I am that I am highlights the essence of citizen responsibility where every Ghanaian is mindful about every single act and its impact on our society.”
“Across nations which have achieved greatness, we see average and responsible citizens call their representatives to order demanding their due where their experiments have veered off of the collective course”, he noted.