Renewal and Transformation of Mind is the Only Remedy

Development is a reflection or an evidence of perceived actions that has been transformed physically or cultivations of mind sets. Development is also generating new substances or achieving substantial output by exerting vigorous input usually from or through our skills and technical abilities. I am bold and an optimistic that African development are all predatory or temporary. African development is temporary because we lack the capability of renovation, maintenance and rehabilitations. The only remedy to Africa problems are renewal and transformation of mindset. The mind set has the power and the ability to develop mechanisms to curb many intriguing situation. Development shall never emancipate if the minds of the people are not tuned to embrace and welcome the ideological implications that development complements with a cohesive appraisals.

Ghana has much potential to become a developed nation in near future if and only the appropriate measures are set in place to formulate a unique system rather than the present situation. Politics and development intertwine complimentarily but their issues must be addressed separately, effectively and efficiently without  prejudices. What we  say 
and do are  reflections of our thought, and so is development with all sagacity. Development is planning and planning emerges from our mind (thought). Therefore, we  need to renew and transformed the mind where the planning takes effect or where it serves as a source and  development faculty of developmental work. The mind is  also as a catalyst for development.

Why development mentioned here so many times? because it is the issue of the millennium goal discussed in Rio de Janerio for human sustainability which has caused the United Nation(UN) enormous amount of funds for it implementations at the local, national and global level. Moreover, the evidence of a nation’s prosperity is development, because it is seen, touch and felt in our daily lives. But the big question here is, where are developments being made? Are all human or  artificial development hanging, are they suspending in the firmaments? Are they imaginary or elusive? Do they come to existence upon command? The development in this context may strictly refer to land development and all its mechanisms that will propels good land use mitigations. It also involved legalities and legislation, protocols and formalities to achieve the highest and a sustainable development by economizing the required resources. Land development has been principal evidence of an economical valor of many nations in recent times due to it temporary trends (hammah, 2010).

It has been the prime motive of my entire career as land use expert to contribute greatly to my nation Ghana, how, because I have acquired the required knowledge from a renounce nation which has made a global impact in  land development. In this respect, my Master thesis was of no any other area of interest than in development issues affecting our housing industries. Why housing deficit increases every year in Ghana? My achievement was recognized by Ghanaian High Commission in Malaysia due to it patriot nature by comparing the issues of land development process vis-a-vis building permit in Malaysia and Ghana. The research was base on comparative framework and a very significant, being the first in such discipline and between the two countries which have strong bilateral relations of ages and share common colonial heritage.

Why wasting time and money of numerous workshop whiles we honestly know that it’s not possible to achieve a total development without addressing the fundamental issues of land tenure in Ghana. Developmental ideologies must be pure and original to maintain it originality so it will be part of the society and the community. We may ruin our country if we rely on external researchers, expatriates, foreign aid and adaptations measures without sharing common ideal ideologies with commitments. Ghanaians and immigrants with good and proper status can make a big difference and impact if only we participate fully. Many are weary because they feel rejected and snubbed, and others also feel abandoned and uninvited. Generally, national affairs is not by invitation and appointment, we can share little that will be beneficial to all. As an individual your input or contribution might not be greatly felt, seen or realize but it will have a considerable impact.

Some Asian countries share common colonial heritage with Ghana and as such we share similar institutional legacy from our colonial masters, for example legislations, regulations, cultural practices etc. Colonialism, imperatively serves as a stepping stone and a foundation of western civilization and development in a very significant manner. Ghana and Malaysian were given the vector power from the British in the year 1957. But Ghana is older than Malaysia in terms of independence with an approximate age difference of 5 months 25 days and 8 hours which empirically pronounced Ghana one of the first independent states in world. But ask yourself, if we are older than them in development, if not corruption, embezzlement, miss appropriation of state funds, flamboyancy etc. The presidential convoy of Malaysia is just a customized model of their local made Proton. Cheap to maintain and less consumption of fuel unlike a poor nation(Ghana) with Jaguar and Ford convoy without considering  the  high maintenance cost.That is best for Ghana, because, they feel comfortable in such vehicles due the poor nature of the roads. They spend more on nobilities in the expense of poor and ignorant Ghanaians.  Ask them where are the SPD vehicles? They have been converted into personal use, why?

Whiles land development or land use development does not happen in vacuum we need to know the useful substances or the prime host of all development and understand it management and administration with an in-depth mitigations in order to achieve a maximum usage of our nature. So what is the prime host of all the development since they don’t hang or suspending in the atmosphere? It might sound rhetorical but basically we lack fundamental knowledge and skill even those who have achieved a greater or higher degree and achievement in the field of land development. Land is the greatest gift of all mankind and the most useful substances ever created since all that we see on earth including human being were created from it. It is the source for all what we are enjoying today.  A nation that fails to honor her land may soon or later encounter multiples of problems. Honoring here may refer to the administration and management. The tenure or the right of possessions, right of use and all it technical implication must synchronize and complement one another to achieve a maximum usage. We must not compromise the sustainable usage of land in every manner, irrespective of the outcome and the political tousle.

Any nation that has achieved a better land development has a better story to share. And they has all experience, threat, temporary instability and sometime political battle within chiefdom, clan etc. Development without long term vision may collapse effortlessly. Development is time consuming process since it entails many process and procedure.

I rightly know that any government (party) in power that want to enforce sound land regulation will have a harsh time and may have  bad reputation unless with good public awareness campaign.  We can’t change or enforce Ghana land regulations and expect a quick action or prove, no way, simply because it will involve the change of legislations, regulations or enactments to suit our cultural practices and tenure system. In so doing, it needs  time but strong commitment and effort  to set such standard. We should transform and renew our minds to embrace the implications of any new fundamental evolution( new land regulation). Such evolution will bring everlasting benefit and curb many problems such as sanitation and health, flooding, zoning and demolishing of houses.   A better land management and administration leads to good economical strength and it alleviates poverty and help to combat housing deficit. Ghana has a housing deficits of about 140,000 units where currently only about 45,000 units are supply annually (2009, Nov. 28, GNA).

The system of Africa is a question/matter of doing things right and doing the right thing. It is also like logics and techniques. I know all the measure that our housing ministry trying to put in place is good enough. But they are just doing things right and not doing the right thing. What is my suggestion? All what we need to do is to secure land for future generations, (operation acquired and secure land for future usage) without any comprise. Enforcing Ghana land law, set precedent, relocate slum settlers with good incentives, set up a system of re-registration of all housing, educate the people to really understand the risk of unregistered/unauthorized development and other properties, Let them know the implications and the reparations therein. The government planning agencies must be well equipped with competent and skilled staff to carry out their duties at all time.

What baffles me is that, I have read several articles about Ghana trying to adopt the GIS (Geographical Information System) software to ease our land management from manual to computerize system. Well, this is one of the best achievements that every nation will be proud of. As a Ghanaian, I will be proud as well, but I was wondering if we are really serious or making fun or perhaps finding means to accumulate wealth through the funds allocated for such purposes? Realistically no nation shall ever adopt good GIS applications without proper cadastral system. Cadastre means a lot and entails proper basic and fundamental survey and many field works. What kind and accurate information/data we can fetch to feed GIS software considering the current system of planning? How will it retrieve information while you have not fed it with good data? Do we have pleasure in running the country’s resources in vain? My arguments are really clear. I sometimes doubt the credibility of such personals and not that they are not qualified  but something is missing along the line. Should we continue to ruin our dear nation for our selfish interest? Are we not the same Ghanaians who  sworn an allegiance to be faithful and loyal to our motherland? Are we not the same people who have pledge and promise to be faithful and loyal to Ghana our motherland? I will single out Dr. Isaac Bonsu Karikari who has whole heartedly devoted much time to propose a system to be implemented. As an expert I think government should have adhere to  his discoveries.

The manner  at which we wave blames against each other should come to an end and forge ahead.  Ghana belongs to all Ghanaians irrespective of your tribe, ethnicity, color and language we are one. However, the blue, red and white, and the white, black, red and green are just mere colors with representations of  different ideologies and they shouldn’t separate or prevent Ghanaians from doing the right thing. We all belong to one mother and therefore we shouldn’t allow our differences to separate us in any way, whatsoever, being it political, religious, traditional or emotional forces we have to swallow the bitter pills and get the competent people involved to achieve all our developmental goals.