Let’s develop Ghana with our own sweat and toil — Otabil
The General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Dr Mensa Otabil, has advised Ghanaians to develop the country from their own sweat and toil, instead of depending too much on other countries.
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He said the dependency culture had virtually crippled the potential of African countries, including Ghana.
Speaking at a mammoth church service to mark the 30th anniversary of the ICGC at the Accra Sports Stadium in Accra Sunday, Dr Otabil called on Ghanaians and Africans at large to take charge of their own affairs.
The service was attended by members of the church and well-wishers from across the country.
It began with song ministrations, followed by prayers to thank God for Dr Otabil’s life and for Ghana as it gets ready to celebrate its 57th anniversary on March 6.
Exhortation
Giving the words of exhortation, Dr Otabil said, “it is the time for Ghana to get serious because the future of the country is for serious people and we need serious thinking and serious planning.”
“If a little church in a classroom can do it, a whole nation endowed with gold, oil and diamonds should be able to do it,” he said, adding, “A whole continent of 52 states with natural resources should be able to do it. If we stretch our hands to God, we can make our lives and the lives of our children better.”
“If Ghana and Africa are to break the cycle of limitations they are encased in, then it is time for them to reject dependency,” Dr Otabil said.
Not all help is good help
Dr Otabil said “the help Africa goes begging for is harming rather than helping the continent”.
“Not all help is good help,” he said, adding, “Sometimes I wonder whether, as Africans, we have allowed ourselves to be crippled by our overdependence on foreigners.”
Dr Otabil said Ghana and Africa could cut the dependency cord if they were willing to do so.
“Look around us and see how we have crippled ourselves, our rivers, our environment, our farms, our schools and our local talents,” he lamented.
According to him, the more Ghana and Africa went begging every day, the more the continent failed to see the strength that God had given it.
“We have to become butterflies by struggling out of our cocoons ourselves. It will not be easy if we decide to do it ourselves. It will be hard, it will be tough; it will be painful. But we will emerge with strong and capable wings,” he said.