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Arise Ghana youth for your country
“If ever we needed such a call for our youth,
This is the time, this is the hour…”
The records show that the song or ‘call to arms’ – “ARISE GHANA YOUTH FOR YOUR COUNTRY” was composed by Jonathan Michael Teye (JMT) Dosoo of Ada, a writer, composer and songwriter and recorded by Flash Don and Fori, whilst featuring such artists as Gosh Mello and Kojo Bills as part of the album by the same title in 2020.
The lyrics for the song are:-
“Arise Ghana youth for your country
The nation demands your devotion
Let us all unite to uphold her
And make her great and strong
Refrain;
We are all involved
We are all involved
We are all involved
In building our motherland
Arise Ghana youth for your country
The nation demands your devotion
Let us all unite to uphold her
And make her great and strong
Refrain;
We are all involved
We are all involved
We are all involved
In building our motherland
A funny story is told of how slave trade started on our coasts.
The slave masters berthed their vessels just off-shore and then paddled their boats to the shores with the goods of whiskeys, rum, colourful apparels,guns and ammunitions; negotiated for the purchases of captive Gold Coasters as slaves from the tribal chiefs or local leaders.
Invariably, these tribal leaders always traded or sold off those captured through wars or the strength of their people, both male and female, whilst also offering their own male children to be educated outside in the countries of the slave owners.
This funny story is a reflection of what we are witnessing now amongst the modern-day leadership of this nation – be it politics, tradition or religion, same template. Thus, the crisis that we are faced with and gradually becoming an albatross, a source of frustration or guilt or an encumbrance for the youth, is how do we re-engineer a new culture of leadership – selfless, dedicated, loyal, patriotic, and nationalistic?
How do we go back to the days of yore, when CORRUPTION was so frowned upon in our society and culture, when a GOLDEN BED by a Minister of State under a past dispensation became front-page news in the dailies; as against now when a driver of a CEO of a state institution can brazenly flout cash on social media or young political appointees, can within a short-time in office showcase such wealth; in turn making the older generation think that they made wrong decisions by choosing honesty in public service?
Funny life that now ‘inside trading’ is no crime but purely an issue of equal opportunities, not even when one is in a privileged to know all the facts and opportunities to set up a firm to take advantage and secure contracts?
How can we get it so wrong that we will accept two thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh₵2,000.00) during national elections to vote people into office who would only come to ignore and abandon us after getting elected, until another four (4) years of one thousand, four hundred and sixty (1,460) days –putting this into perspective, the equivalent of one Ghana Cedis, thirty-seven pesewas (Gh₵1.37) a day, taking into account the money taken as ‘vote-for-me-bribe’.
What are you worth as a person, with no dignity, no self-value nor self-worth? Is this how you value yourself?
The future of any nation and a people, belongs to her youth, meaning that whatever investments into development, irrespective of field, be it education, infrastructure, or health, any government undertakes, the real beneficiaries are the youth. Therefore, if you know your real wealth as the INHERITORS OF THIS NATION, GHANA – justified to receive the resources and or properties by legal descent or succession, genetically as a right from one’s ancestry or as an heir – why on earth would any youth of this nation settle for less, especially when the leadership is only holding their positions in trust for the youth?
This is why the song “ARISE GHANA YOUTH FOR YOUR COUNTRY” is such a profound call for a time and period such as now.
It is most important for me to make you understand WHO YOU REALLY ARE AS A GHANAIAN YOUTH and as a CITIZEN of this great nation, Ghana, knowing that CITIZENSHIP carries with it rights and responsibilities as well as mindful of the seven litmus tests for citizenship as (i) loyalty, (ii) patriotism, (iii) nationalism, (iv) character, (v) identity, (vi) culture, and (vii) allegiance.
Now permit me to tell you the story or parable of the ‘PRODIGAL SON’ (also known as the parable of the Two Brothers, Lost Son Loving Father, or of the Forgiving Father) in the Book of Apostle Luke 15:11-32.
The essence of this parable for the new ‘Ghanaian Youth’ is not to become like the ‘younger son’, who said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’
I expect the new ‘Ghanaian Youth’ not to gather everything (that he had by way of asking for his share from his father – Ghana) and travel to a distant country, and there wasted his fortune on reckless and immoral living.
“Remember that when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to do without and be in need. So he went and forced himself on one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He would have gladly eaten the (carob) pods that the pigs were eating (but they could not satisfy his hunger), and no one was giving anything to him.
But when he (finally) came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough food, while I am dying here of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father (Ghana) I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son (Ghanaian); (just) treat me like one of your hired men.”
So he got up and came to his father (Ghana). But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him”.
I have gone to this extent to quote the passage because what has been happening to our youth since the advent of the 4th Republican Dispensation in 1993, the tendency for the socio-religious-political class to take them for granted – not taking their education, health, job opportunities, facilities for recreation, mentorship, and advancements of all sorts seriously; as the advancements of their own children is what is of utmost importance for these classes so that their lineage will continue to rule and lord over the rest of the Ghanaian Youth.
The Ghanaian Youth shall always look up to the clarion call for action: “Arise Ghana youth for your country; The nation demands your devotion; Let us all unite to uphold her; And make her great and strong – We are all involved in building our motherland – Ghana”.
Ghana can only fail if the youth, our youth give up their dreams, their aspirations, their future and ask for their share of the inheritance to travel out for strangers to take over their place and RE-WRITE the history and legacies of their forebearers – a great abomination because they will, like Okonkwo, wonder what will happen to their father’s house when they transit into the unknown.
The time to act is now for the Youth of Ghana as the nation, Ghana demands their devotion and they cannot afford to travel out like the ‘Prodigal Son’ and leave the land desolate for strangers to occupy same.
The writer is a land economist & appraiser, sports business consultant and author – (excerpt from manuscript “NATION ADRIFT AT SEA – Ghana In Search of Her Soul, Identity & Values”)
By Magnus Naabe Rex Danquah
Attention-Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often mistaken for laziness or indiscipline. In consulting rooms across Accra and in reports from school teachers, the pattern repeats: children who are bright but forgetful, parents who feel helpless, teachers who see incompleteness.
Research is clear-Barkley (2015) and others describe ADHD as a difference in the brain’s regulation of alertness, impulse and working memory, not a lack of effort.
The family’s role begins with structure. Regular sleep, predictable meal and homework times, and a simple visual list (uniform → books → water → corridor) provide the external scaffolding of these children need. Praise what is completed—“You opened the book and wrote the first sentence”-instead of rebuking what is missing.
Schools can help by seating the child front-row and centre, giving short written plus verbal instructions, allowing brief movement breaks, using quiet nonverbal cues and, where possible, grading effort and method as well as neatness. These adjustments reduce conflict and raise submission rates without lowering standards.
Couples and caregivers should share roles: one grounds, one pivots, and both protect rest. Shame-“bad parenting, bad child”-needs replacing with fact: different wiring, needs scaffolding.
Outcomes improve not by promises of perfection but by daily routines, clear limits and warmed connection. One homework slot kept, one instruction chunked, one calm repair after blurting-these small wins shift the family climate and let the child be seen beyond the label.
Resource
• CPAC (award-winning Mental Health and Counselling Facility): 0559850604 / 0551428486
Source: REV. COUNSELLOR PRINCE OFFEI’s insights on special needs support, relationships, and mental health in Ghana. He is a leading mental health professional, lecturer, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, renowned author, and marriage counsellor at COUNSELLOR PRINCE & ASSOCIATES CONSULT (CPAC COUNSELLOR TRAINING INSTITUTE) – 0551428486 /0559850604.
WEBSITES:
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/author
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/website
After two weeks of hectic activity up north, I drove to the Tamale airport, parked the car at the Civil Aviation car park as usual, paid the usual parking fee and boarded the plane for Accra.
Over the last two weeks, I had shuffled between three sites where work was close to completion.
One was a seed warehouse, where farmers would come and pick up good quality maize, sorghum and other planting material.
The other was a health facility for new mothers, where they were given basic training on good nutrition and small scale business.
And the third was a set of big boreholes for three farming communities.
The projects usually ran on schedule, but a good deal of time was spent building rapport with the local people, to ensure that they would be well patronised and maintained.
It was great to be working in a situation where one’s work was well appreciated. But it certainly involved a lot of work, and proactivity. And I made sure that I recorded updates online before going to bed in the evening.
When the plane took off, my mind shifted to issues in Accra, the big city. The young guys at my office had done some good work. They had secured five or six houses on a row in a good part of the city, and were close to securing the last.
When we got this property, unusually, Abena greeted them casually, and appeared to be comfortable in the guy’s company.
I was quite disappointed to hear that, because until the last few weeks, it seemed as if Abena and I were heading in a good direction. Apart from the affection I had for her, I liked her family. I decided to take it easy, and allow things to fall in whatever direction.
Normally I would take a taxi to her house from the airport, and pick her up to my place. This time I went to my sisters’ joint, where they sat by me while I enjoyed a drink and a good meal.
“So Little Brother,” Sister Beesiwa said, “what is it we are hearing about our wife-to-be?”
“When did you conclude that she was your wife-to-be? And what have you heard? I’ve only heard a couple of whispers. Ebo and Nana Kwame called to say that they have seen her in the company of—”
“Well said Little Brother,” Sister Baaba said. “By the way, Nana Kwame called an hour ago to ask if you had arrived because he could not reach you. Someone had told him that Jennifer had boasted to someone that she had connected Abena to a wealthy guy who would take care of her.”
I was beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.
“In that case,” Sister Beesiwa said, “you should be glad that Abena is out of your way. She is easily swayed. Anyone who would make a relationship decision based on a friend’s instigation lacks good sense. I hope the guy is as wealthy as they say?”
“Who gets wealthy running a supermarket chain in Ghana?” Sister Baaba said. “Our supermarkets sell mostly imported products. Look at the foreign exchange rate. And remember that Ghanaians buy second-hand shoes and clothes. Supermarkets are not good business here. Perhaps they are showing off that they are wealthy, but in reality they are not doing so well.”
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.”
She said that David Forson was only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her. And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. We would be able to sell all five houses to one big corporate customer, and we had already spoken to a property dealer who was trying to find a buyer in order to get a good commission.
That was going to be my biggest break. I had asked the boys to look for a large tract of land on the outskirts of the city where we could develop our own set of buildings, blocks of storey houses and upscale apartments. Things were going according to plan, and I was quietly excited. However, things were not going so well regarding my relationship with Abena.
My buddies Ebo and Nana Kwame had called to say that they met Abena and her friend Jennifer enjoying lunch with a guy, and Ebo believed that Jennifer was ‘promoting’ an affair between Jennifer and the guy. They were of the view that the promotion seemed to be going in the guy’s favour, because only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her.
And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“As I’ve already said, I will stop by her place, but I will mind my own business from now. Hey, let’s talk family. How are our parents? And my brothers-in-law? And my nephews and nieces? Why don’t we meet on Sunday? I’m going to drop my bags at my place, and go to see Mama and Dad.”
