Dr. Victor Abbey, a retired military officer, has blamed partisan politics and the erosion of long-term national vision for Ghana’s development setbacks.
He said, Ghana’s founding fathers pursued independence with a strategic and transformational vision, unlike the current political approach, which he described as largely election-centred and driven by self-interest.
Speaking at an Africa Leaders Institute of Global Affairs (AFLIGA) media engagement, as part of a discussion ahead of Ghana’s 70th independence anniversary next year, Dr. Abbey said the country’s early leaders were “not merely politicians but visionaries” who pursued national development with long-term goals in mind.
“They did not treat independence as an event. They had a transformation agenda and understood the circumstances they found themselves in. Their focus was not merely on political power, but on building systems and institutions for the future,” he said.
Dr. Abbey, a retired Captain of the Ghana Armed Forces, said the founding leaders institutionalised governance systems, infrastructure development, educational reforms and industrialisation policies that were intended to serve future generations.
He noted that unlike contemporary politics, which he said was often driven by electoral calculations, the early post-independence leadership concentrated on nation-building and human capital development.
“Leadership now is grounded firmly on self-aggrandisement rather than national interest,” he said.
“Today, much of the focus is on winning the next election instead of pursuing the long-term vision for the country.”
Dr Abbey who is also a strategic leadership expert argued that Ghana deviated from its original development trajectory following the 1966 coup d’état that overthrew Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s government.
“In my personal view, the first coup was where we got it wrong,” he said.
“Those who carried out the coup did not look at the bigger picture. External influences impacted their judgement and disrupted Ghana’s long-term strategic direction.”
Dr. Abbey also noted that subsequent regimes failed to deliberately correct the institutional and developmental disruptions caused by the coup, resulting in weakened state institutions and increased political polarisation.
Despite these challenges, he said, Ghana still remained strategically positioned within Africa and continued to be regarded as a beacon of hope on the continent.
“I see Ghana as a nation on the threshold of prosperity. The consciousness and desire among many citizens to see a better Ghana still exists, but we need leadership that is intentional, visionary and selfless.”
Dr. Abbey stressed the need for strategic national planning that transcended partisan political interests and called for stronger support for state institutions, including the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).
He observed that although Ghana had developed long-term plans such as the Vision 2057 agenda, many citizens remained unaware of them because of inadequate dissemination and lack of political commitment.
“We invest resources into preparing national development plans, but when governments change, they are often abandoned,” he noted, adding that “the problem is not merely the existence of plans, but the political will to implement them.”
Dr. Abbey also advocated deliberate leadership training from the basic school level through tertiary education to instil values of integrity, responsibility and patriotism in young people, adding that Ghana’s development challenges were linked not only to infrastructure deficits but also to declining ethical standards among professionals and public officials.
“Professionals in this country have thrown away values,” he said, warning that “if we do not build ethical leadership and accountability into our systems, development projects will not achieve lasting impact.”
He also emphasised the importance of protecting state institutions from political interference, cautioning that undermining institutions weakened national development efforts.
“This country’s security is in the hands of those in uniform,” he noted. “If they are not aligned with the mindset of sacrifice, selflessness and protecting the nation, then where are we going?”
Dr. Abbey called on political leaders, traditional authorities, religious organisations, academics and civil society groups to work collectively towards resetting Ghana’s development agenda, indicating that national development required deliberate leadership, strategic planning and citizen participation.
“Nations do not develop by chance. Development must be intentional, strategic and supported by people who understand where the country is heading,” he stressed.
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