Ghana’s Underdevelopment: Blame The People, Not Just The Politicians

In Ghana, political conversations often revolve around the failure of leadership. Many citizens believe the country’s problems stem solely from corrupt, incompetent, or selfish politicians.

The common chorus is: “Our leaders are corrupt,” “Our politicians are greedy,” and “They don’t care about the people.” But here’s the hard truth—politicians are not aliens from another planet. They are Ghanaians, molded by the same society that criticizes them.

While this perspective is not entirely false, it leaves out a crucial element—the ordinary Ghanaian’s role in sustaining the very system they criticize.

It is easy to blame politicians for every social and economic setback, but the deeper question is: who puts them in power, sustains them, and sometimes defends their wrongdoings? The answer often points back to the Ghanaian people.

One of Ghana’s most persistent challenges is the culture of patronage. Politicians promise jobs, contracts, and financial favors, and many voters demand exactly that. Instead of demanding accountability, transparency, and long-term development policies, citizens sometimes prioritize short-term personal benefits. A politician who distributes cash at rallies is often more celebrated than one who outlines well-thought-out development plans.

Corruption Is In The Ghanaian’s DNA?

Let’s be brutally honest. How many Ghanaians refuse to pay bribes at police barriers? How many won’t sneak a little “something small” to speed up a passport, a school admission, or a court case? The petty trader who cheats with her scales, the civil servant who takes money to “push files,” and the driver who buys fake roadworthy certificates are no different from the politician who steals millions. The scale is different, but the character is the same.

When a politician from one’s preferred party is caught in corruption, supporters are quick to defend them. However, the same act by an opposing politician is condemned loudly. This selective morality reinforces impunity. The unwillingness of ordinary Ghanaians to hold “their own” accountable allows political leaders to escape scrutiny and continue with business as usual.

It is not only politicians who engage in corrupt practices. From paying bribes to police officers to jumping queues at government offices, many Ghanaians contribute to the erosion of social discipline. When public servants demand “something small” before doing their jobs, and when citizens comply instead of resisting, corruption becomes a shared national culture.

Lack Of Discipline:

Ghanaians break traffic laws and insult police officers for arresting them. They dump refuse in drains and then cry when floods sweep through their cities. They steal electricity with illegal connections and later complain about high tariffs. They jump queues, refuse to pay taxes, and yet demand better roads, quality healthcare, and free education. The Ghanaian has normalized lawlessness, and politicians are simply a reflection of this broken discipline.

This Is How Serious Corruption Has ‘Swallowed’ Ghana

Ultimately, politicians reflect the society they emerge from. If the average Ghanaian demands integrity, efficiency, and service, political leaders will have no choice but to adapt. However, as long as votes are traded for gifts, tribal loyalty, or party colors, leaders will feel less compelled to prioritize national interest.

Politicians Are a Mirror of the Society:

If the Ghanaian were truly disciplined, selfless, and intolerant of corruption, no politician could dare misbehave. Leaders do what citizens allow. When citizens demand accountability, leaders sit up. But when citizens glorify thieves because they share a portion of the loot, leaders know they can continue robbing the nation with impunity.

Ghana will not change until Ghanaians themselves change. Politicians are not magicians. They rise from our families, our schools, our churches, our mosques, and our communities. If our values are rotten, our leaders will be rotten too. Until the average Ghanaian stops worshipping money, tribalism, and shortcuts, Ghana will remain stuck in a cycle of poverty and excuses.

How do Ghanaians Change the Narrative:

Ghana’s progress depends not only on political reforms but also on a cultural shift among the people. Citizens must see themselves as active participants in governance, not passive victims. This means refusing to accept bribes, resisting political manipulation, demanding accountability regardless of party, and voting based on competence rather than identity.

Until this mindset changes, politicians—good or bad—will continue to operate within a system that rewards mediocrity and corruption. The real power lies in the hands of the Ghanaian citizen.