In a fiery critique of Ghana’s current developmental trajectory, renowned journalist and award-winning broadcaster Bernard Koku Avle has called for a radical shift in the country’s leadership approach and societal priorities.
Mr Avle, in his scathing critique, criticized the country’s obsession with superficial achievements and rankings, arguing that Ghana has lost its way in understanding the true essence of development and economics.
He lamented over Ghana’s developmental failures, arguing that the country’s leaders and citizens alike have been more concerned with outward appearances and accolades rather than the substantive, transformative change that development should entail.
“So we don’t understand development, and we don’t understand economics. Let’s stop teasing ourselves. We must apply knowledge to free our citizens. That is why we are here. God didn’t bring us here so that they would rank us on some World Bank something that we are doing well.
“In a country which at the time of independence, no sub-Saharan country could compare with us and had its people attending all the good schools; we had people who even went to the British to argue to preserve our land long before the East Africans did it. At the time John Mensah Sarbah and Caseley Hayford were educated, people in East Africa and Southern didn’t have that level of education, we had”.
Bernard Koku Avle, Renowned and Award Winning Journalist
Comparative Politics and the Illusion of Progress
The 2019 Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Journalist of the Year further criticized the superficiality of Ghanaian political discourse, pointing out that the election of leaders and political debates have often been reduced to mere comparisons on social media rather than focusing on meaningful transformation.
He urged Ghanaians to look beyond partisan politics and demand real, impactful change. Drawing comparisons with Singapore, Mr Avle emphasized the need for hard work, sacrifice, and visionary leadership to achieve transformation.
He recounted how, within a generation, Singapore transformed from a poor country into a first-world nation, a feat Ghana has failed to replicate despite its early promise.
” In 30 years, you think they did it by just doing politics on Facebook? You must be joking. They were working hard. They closed in, they made difficult decisions, and people sacrificed. Where is the sacrifice? How many of us even go to the rural communities to even see what’s going on there? To even understand what’s happening in our own country”?
Bernard Koku Avle, Renowned and Award Winning Journalist
Critique of Media and Religious Influence
In his remarks, Mr Avle also criticized the role of the media and the church in perpetuating a culture of complacency and distraction.
He criticized the content broadcasted on Ghanaian television, noting that it often revolves around trivialities like lotteries and sensational preaching, rather than fostering a culture of critical thinking and action.
He called for a more substantive media focus that aligns with the nation’s developmental needs.
A Lost Generation and Wasted Potential
Additionally, Bernard Avle’s concerns extended to the broader societal implications of Ghana’s developmental missteps, warning that a generation of Ghanaians is at risk of being lost due to poor leadership and misguided priorities.
He lamented the lack of effective use of the country’s resources, citing the Volta Lake, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, which remains underutilized for irrigation and agriculture.
He criticized successive governments for failing to harness the nation’s agricultural potential.
“We have the 3rd largest man-made lake in the world. You can’t even do irrigation to plant enough rice. I mean, take Afram Plains alone; it’s only under IK Acheampong, who built some dykes and after Acheampong, we have all these big English-speaking people as Presidents, What have they done?
“From Asutware down to the Volta, we can’t plant enough rice. We have people who do agricultural research. We’ll not do it. We’ll go and give a big lecture abroad. And they will bring people to come and sit in the hall and tell us what to do to transform agriculture”.
Bernard Koku Avle, Renowned and Award Winning Journalist
The award-winning journalist in addition questioned the value of foreign-led development initiatives that fail to produce tangible local benefits, critiquing the reliance on foreign expertise to dictate agricultural policies without meaningful local input or control.
Redefining Success and the Way Forward
Avle’s speech culminated in a powerful call to action for both leaders and citizens. He urged Ghanaians to redefine what success and development mean, focusing on genuine transformation that improves lives and builds a sustainable future.
“What industry have we transformed? That is the real question. And transforming it to bring social impact,” he emphasized, pushing for a shift from extractive economic models to ones that add value and foster equitable development.
He underscored the critical need for transformative leadership that not only understands the complexities of development but is also committed to making the tough decisions necessary to steer Ghana towards a prosperous future.
In a nation blessed with resources and talent, Avle’s call for a deeper understanding of development and economics is a clarion call to action, urging Ghanaians to stop “tickling themselves and laughing” and instead focus on building a future worthy of its past.
