Dr Hassan Ayariga, Founder and Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), has warned that 69 years after independence, Ghana is yet to fully realize the vision of its first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Speaking on The Pulse on March 6, Dr Ayariga said the country continues to face challenges in governance, education, and economic development, noting that successive leaders have failed to build on Nkrumah’s strong foundation.

“If you ask me, have we reached? I would say no. Sixty-nine years is a long time for a country like ours that inherited so much. We could not maintain the significance of those fundamentals that shaped us.”

Reflecting on the Nkrumah era, Dr Ayariga argued that Ghana has drifted from the path set by the founding president.

“When Nkrumah was in government, we were on the right path. But after Nkrumah, the chain of leaders began to decline. Instead of doing better than Nkrumah, we are doing less.”

On education, he criticised the system for failing to prepare the younger generation to take on leadership and innovation.

“Have we trained our young men and women to be thinkers, innovators, and leaders? No, we have not. We haven’t prepared them to do much beyond the usual, including corruption.”

Dr Ayariga questioned whether the youth are ready to inherit the nation’s leadership.

“If we decide to hand over this country to the younger generation, will they be able to take over?”

He also condemned what he described as the “winner-takes-all” approach in politics.

“Sixty-nine years down the line, we are still practicing politics where the winner takes it all. This mindset pulls us backwards, divides our front, and makes us lose strength. It doesn’t matter who the president is; what matters is what they bring to unite and build the nation.”

Highlighting the need for inclusive leadership, Dr Ayariga said national progress requires the participation of all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.

“Until we change the mindset and create leadership that everyone is part of, we will continue to lose ground. We need a system where progress is continuous, not abandoned every time power changes hands.”

Dr Ayariga’s comments serve as a call for reflection and urgent action as Ghana approaches its 70th independence anniversary, urging both leaders and citizens to rethink the country’s political, economic, and educational priorities.

“We must ask ourselves: Are we preparing the next generation to take over? Are we building a Ghana that fulfills the vision of Nkrumah? Until we do, our journey remains incomplete.”