Ghana’s economy relies heavily on remittances and foreign aid. Without these, the economy could face serious problems. Each year, Ghana receives about $4 billion in remittances, which helps families, pay salaries, and support building home and business development. If these funds were cut off, many families would struggle financially. Additionally, the government of Ghana depends on foreign aid from both bilateral and multilateral sources, as well as humanitarian and even technical assistance.
The policies of other countries, especially the U.S., can greatly affect Ghana’s economy. This means our leaders need to take steps to protect Ghanaian citizens both at home and abroad. Many Ghanaians living overseas are vulnerable because they lack support from the Ghanaian government, leading to exploitation and unfair treatment.
With Donald Trump in power, some of his policies could significantly impact our people, so the government of Ghana must be proactive and act responsibly because some of our people abroad feed mouths back home.
First, we need to acknowledge that our country has problems, which is why many people leave their families to find better opportunities. The new leadership should address this quickly. The government needs to collect data on all unemployed citizens, including their education and skills, and create jobs that fit their needs.
Those who require skill training should receive it to be ready for the job market. Additionally, providing some support for the unemployed can help reduce desperation, which will address many issues related to unemployment.
Many Western countries exploit our people through their visa policies. I hope Ghana’s parliament will create a law that makes it illegal for foreign embassies to charge visa fees without first checking if the applicant is eligible or if they find the person isn’t eligible, they should refund the fees instead of keeping it, it is a scam, to charge visa fees and not issue the visas to those who applied, if the selection criteria is your own criteria.
These countries make millions of dollars and euros from visa applicants in Ghana and only give a small part back as aid. We must protect our citizens from being cheated. In Ghana, foreign embassies often impose rules that our country has to follow, which is ridiculous and unfair because we can’t do that in their country.
The self-centered foreign policy of powerful countries that mistreat our people, both locally and internationally, should remind our leaders that it’s time to prioritize Ghana. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah warned us about this neocolonialism, and until our leaders take action, we will remain vulnerable.
I hope our new foreign minister, Honourable Ablakwah Okudjeto, will bring about these changes. In the past, many of our foreign ministers loved to mingle, wine, and dine and get awards from the very people who oppress us, through unfair Laws and foreign policies. Let’s work to make Ghana great for Ghanaians.
Considering the current geopolitical landscape, every country is focusing inward and prioritizing its citizens. Ghana needs to prepare for challenges and stop treating governance as business as usual. We must put Ghanaians first, and create advantages for Ghanaians both at home and abroad through proactive initiatives.
