There is a lie we tell ourselves. A comforting one for that matter. And it is that, “Our leaders have failed us. The future belongs to the youth and that when we get the chance, we will fix this country.”

But here is the truth no one wants to admit: We are not ready!

We shout about corruption, yet if given power today, many will steal just the same. We complain about politicians lying, yet we manipulate and deceive even worse.

We cry about leadership failures, yet most of us are more interested in aesthetics than action, in clout than competence.

If power were handed to the youth today, will Ghana be any different?

In my opinion, we have only built an illusion of readiness. We love to say, “The youth are the future.” But being the future means nothing if we do not prepare for it.

A new generation does not automatically mean a better one. The youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. But the real question is, what kind of leaders will they be?

Scroll through social media and see what occupies our minds. We are more united over a Telegram leak than we are over policies that shape our lives. We mobilise for concerts faster than we do for protests.

We invest in drip, not development. We spend hours debating the lyrics of an artist, yet we cannot name three laws that affect our future.

We are not ready. We have the numbers, but not the power, the unity and the discipline to take charge. And that is the loophole the older generation use to win over us.

They know we do not know how to organise, we do not read and a small trend on X(Twitter) will get us distracted. They know when it really matters, we will not show up.

Maybe you did not know, but now, you do. And something must change. Now.

We must build our intellect. We should read beyond our course materials. Understanding governance, leadership, policies, and how the economy works will build us to take charge.

We need to be organised and united. Collectively, we are Unstoppable. With this strength, we must structure and plan to make every movement we lead not just last for a moment but be of momentum that will spark change.

We must be accountable. The next generation of corrupt leaders will come from us. Unless we learn to build accountability and integrity now. Lastly, we must redefine influence.

The kind of influence we are uplifting is what is largely creating this illusion of readiness. Not every microphone deserves an audience. Let us elevate thoughtful leaders, not just entertainers.

Power is coming. Whether we are ready or not, one day the youth will take over this country.

And when that day comes, will Ghana be any different?

That answer depends on us!