Dr. Joshua Oppong-Sarfo, Executive Director of New African Concept, has called for a radical shift in Ghana’s value system to address the country’s developmental challenges.
Speaking at the Ghana Leadership Series organised by the Africa Leadership Group in partnership with The Chayil Foundation on Friday, February 28, he emphasized that the root cause of Ghana’s crises lies in its internal value system rather than external factors or leadership shortcomings.
“Our culture is not a culture that brings transformation,” Dr. Oppong-Sarfo stated. “Nations are successful because of their strong value systems. It is not because of our natural resources, but because of our values.”
He identified poor time management and an entitlement mentality as key factors impeding Ghana’s progress. “If you have a nation that does not value time, they waste away and become unproductive,” he stressed.
Resource Curse and Leadership as a Reflection of Society
Dr. Oppong-Sarfo also addressed the paradox of resource-rich nations remaining underdeveloped, citing Nigeria, Congo, and Ghana as examples. He argued that leadership alone is not the fundamental problem, as many believe. “A country’s leadership is a reflection of its norms. Leadership is an effect of a fundamental cause,” he noted.
He dismissed the notion that nation-building depends on miracles, instead asserting that it requires adherence to principles, processes, and deliberate action. “Nation-building does not ride on miracles. It rides on principles, processes, and systems,” he said.
The Human Capital Imperative
Reiterating the importance of human capital, Dr. Oppong-Sarfo described people as a nation’s greatest asset—if properly harnessed. “There are no dry lands; there are dry men,” he said, underscoring that nations such as the U.S. and China have successfully leveraged their populations for development, while Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo struggle despite their large numbers.
He highlighted alarming projections about Africa’s economic future, noting that “80% of the world’s poorest people will come from Africa, and 40% will come from Nigeria and Congo.”
Tackling Root Causes Instead of Symptoms
Dr. Oppong-Sarfo expressed concern that Ghana focuses on symptoms rather than root causes of its problems, which only results in temporary relief rather than lasting solutions. He cited persistent challenges such as electricity shortages and flooding as evidence of this misplaced approach.
He called for a conscious, deliberate effort to build transformational values to replace the prevailing mindset. “Our greatest problem is not infrastructure, even though we have infrastructure problems. Our greatest problem is not leadership, even though we have leadership crises. Our greatest problem is our value system,” he declared.
National Integration and Institutional Recalibration
According to Dr. Oppong-Sarfo, Ghana lacks true national cohesion due to divisions along partisan, tribal, and religious lines. “Artificially, we are a country, but technically, we are not a nation,” he stated, advocating for a national integration program to unify citizens beyond political and ethnic interests.
On the issue of the National Service Scheme (NSS) military training, he described it as a step in the right direction but not comprehensive enough, questioning the discipline even among full-time military personnel.
He also called for institutional recalibration, particularly in secondary education, and commended recent government efforts to cut wasteful expenditures, such as reducing the scale of Independence Day celebrations. “One thing killing us as a country is the wastage of time and money,” he remarked.
Role of Citizens and the Church
Dr. Oppong-Sarfo emphasized that citizens themselves bear responsibility for national issues before they can hold leaders accountable. “We, the citizens, are architects of our own problems before we become victims,” he said.
He concluded that Ghana can chart a new path to success if it implements strong value systems and transformative policies. While he acknowledged that value-based transformation transcends religious lines, he pointed out that Christianity offers a structured way to instill such values.
However, he challenged the church to do more with its influence to advance the right values for societal progress.
The event was hosted by Ituah Ighodalo, President of the Africa Leadership Group, and moderated by Eileen Ninson, CEO of The Chayil Foundation.
