By David Apinga

Copyright myjoyonline

As Ghana commemorates Founder’s Day in honour of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, private legal practitioner Victoria Bright has urged the current generation of politicians to adopt Nkrumah’s values of service and sacrifice.

Speaking on JoyNews AM Show on Monday, September 22, Ms. Bright expressed concern that Ghana’s political landscape is now dominated by individuals who view public office as a privilege rather than a duty.

Ms. Bright lamented the stark contrast between Dr. Nkrumah’s call to service and the attitude of many contemporary politicians.

“His call to service and sacrifice. That’s something we don’t see a lot of. In fact, we don’t see it in politics at all now, I dare say,” she stated.

She argued that a large number of politicians today act as if they are “doing Ghanaians a favour,” a mindset she believes is fundamentally at odds with the true meaning of public service.

This year’s Founder’s Day, celebrated on September 21, marks a period of national reflection on Ghana’s journey since independence in 1957.

Ms. Bright’s comments highlight a persistent challenge: the gap between the nation’s founding ideals and its current realities.

According to a 2024 Afrobarometer report, public trust in Ghana’s political institutions has declined, with 71% of citizens believing that most or all government officials are involved in corruption. This sentiment is often linked to the perceived self-serving motives of some public officeholders.

Bright believes that a fundamental change in attitude is necessary to achieve real progress.

“We need a mindset shift in those who occupy our public offices that they are here to serve us, not just in the final year of the four-year term, but actually to serve the nation, Ghana,” she said.

She added that once this shift occurs, the country will begin to see “real, real and significant progress.”

Dr Nkrumah’s legacy is defined by his unwavering commitment to Pan-Africanism and his ambitious development agenda, which included building over 400 factories and establishing key state corporations like the Volta River Authority (VRA) and Ghana Airways.

His vision was centred on a belief that leaders must make personal sacrifices for the collective good of the nation.

For Ms. Bright, Ghana’s path to a prosperous future lies in its leaders rediscovering and embracing these foundational principles.