Let’s Quit Blame Games and Take Responsibility for National Development – Otumfuo
The Monarch of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called for an end to blame games and the assumption of responsibility to drive the country’s socio-economic development.
Otumfuo observed that for too long, Ghanaians have indulged in the luxury of blaming themselves for their woes.
“We even continue to blame the First Republic, which ended 60 years ago, for our failings today. Yes, 60 years later, we blame the government for corruption but we ignore the fact that we ourselves are responsible for stimulating it,” he said at a dinner ball at the Manhyia Palace on April 24, 2026.
He added that politicians blame religious leaders for mounting moral turpitude, while religious leaders blame politicians for lacking discipline.
In the same vein, he cited parents blaming schools for a lack of discipline and schools blaming parents for a lack of parental care.
Condemning the act, the King stated that it behooves every Ghanaian to contribute their quota towards solving national problems and spurring development.
“When a Ghanaian walks into a shopping mall and finds more than 90% of the goods on offer to be imported, it must strike him instantly that there is a huge market for manufacturing in the country. If there is any entrepreneurial instinct in him, it must drive him to explore possibilities for investment. It is not a matter of government. It is a matter of business.”
“It has been refreshing to hear a number of initiatives from government to stimulate private sector production in agriculture, forestry, and industries. The creation of the Tree Crop Authority is a welcome initiative, and the efforts of the Ministry of Trade to drive investment and agribusiness are another step in this direction.”
According to the Occupant of the Golden Stool, the ball is now in the court of citizens to take advantage of these initiatives.
“The history of Ghana is replete with a number of government initiatives that ultimately bit the dust because the people responded to them more as political gestures than as serious efforts for economic development. We cannot afford another phase of the same routine.”
Otumfuo thus challenged Ghanaians to demonstrate care for economic development by exploring available opportunities and taking risks.
“It is ours to take the hard decisions on where and how to invest our resources. If we as citizens are not prepared to take the risk of investing in manufacturing in our country, we should not expect others to come and invest.
“We should not expect to outsource the hard work required for development and enjoy the rewards of development. There can be no gain without risk and no benefit without effort and hard work.”
‘Build Ghana Now’ Campaign
The Occupant of the Golden Stool further unveiled a campaign to marshal Ghanaians to invest in the country.
The ‘Build Ghana Now’ campaign was officially announced at the ‘World-Meets-In-Ghana’ Executive Dinner Ball on April 24, 2026, organized to honour the Asantehene for his 27-year leadership on the Golden Stool.
His Majesty took inspiration from the ‘Self-Government Now’ slogan of the country’s founding President, which propelled the independence of Ghana.
Otumfuo noted that the circumstances of the current dispensation call for a campaign just as momentous as the campaign for self-government.
“So tonight, I’m moved to invite captains of business gathered here and beyond to join hands with our traditional leaders, our farmers, our media, and all relevant sections of society to start another campaign to ‘Build Ghana Now’.“
It is the call to unleash the energy of our communities to encourage our people to put their money where their mouths are, to raise the capacity, take risks, and to invest in the future of the only nation we have. It is time once again for ‘Wo ara tu, wo ara sa’.”
Story by Hajara Fuseini
