Ghana Rising with Nuong Faalong: Why Ghana needs a reset

Earlier this week, one of my friends propounded an interesting argument: to choose between a reset or an upgrade?

Now if you are familiar with Ghanaian political lingua, you will already know that these two terms have taken up competing positions with ‘Reset’ being propounded by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and ‘Upgrade’ being propounded by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Well, I tried to explain that given the state of Ghana, we cannot upgrade even if we want to, because we are at rock bottom and at rock bottom, only a reset can give you a semblance of life!

My dear friend still struggled to understand, or perhaps it was more convenient to misunderstand me? Nonetheless I supported my argument with a simple analogy that is hopefully easier to understand. HEAR ME!!!

Imagine your phone screen suddenly turns blue, displaying the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.” No matter how much you press the power button, tap the screen, or try to upgrade the software, nothing works. In fact, you do not even have access to software upgrade because your phone is unresponsive! Your phone is essentially dead, and the only solution is a hard reset. Tell me, how do you upgrade from nothing? To upgrade a system, you need to be on something positive that you can leverage.

This analogy mirrors the current state of Ghana’s economy- a system that is dysfunctional, and incapable of upgrades. The NPP’s suggestion to “upgrade” the economy is like trying to install new software on a device that has crashed. What Ghana needs right now is a reset, not an upgrade. This is why the NDC’s plan to reset the nation is the most viable path forward.

The Ghanaian Economy: A Blue Screen of Death

Ghana’s economy, like that frozen phone screen, has reached a point of no return. Years of mismanagement, unsustainable debt accumulation, record-breaking inflationary pressures, corruption and a shrinking job market have left the country in a dire state. The current economic framework is beyond repair—it’s time for a complete overhaul. Continuing to apply incremental fixes, as the NPP suggests, will not address the root causes of the problem.

Under the current administration, Ghana’s economic indicators have hit rock bottom. Inflation reached a 21-year high in 2022, the cedi experienced one of the worst depreciations globally, and Ghana defaulted on its debt for the first time in history. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stepped in to bail the country out, but the deeper structural problems remain unresolved.

Attempting to “upgrade” this system, as the NPP proposes, is akin to trying to patch a leaking bucket by drilling more holes in it. The existing system is fundamentally broken. The current framework, which is riddled with inefficiencies, corruption, and poor governance, cannot be fixed with minor tweaks. What is needed is a reset, a fresh start that reimagines how Ghana’s economy should operate.

Why a Reset is Essential:

A reset enhances our ability to build resilience. When your phone freezes or crashes, you reset it to clear out the clutter, refresh the system, and allow it to function optimally once again. The same principle applies to the Ghanaian economy. A reset allows us to wipe the slate clean, rebuild from a solid foundation, and create a system that is both resilient and sustainable.

A reset offers the opportunity to enhance resilience by clearing out inefficiencies and rebuilding the economy from a solid foundation, much like resetting a frozen phone allows it to function optimally again. For the NDC and  Ghana, a reset means addressing core issues such as inefficient public sector management, a flawed tax system, and over-reliance on external debt. It enables the creation of a new economic framework that supports local industries, creates jobs, and ensures fair distribution of resources, while also making long-term investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

The NDC’s proposal for a reset is not about going back to the past, but about learning from previous experiences to build a better, more resilient future for Ghana.

The Flaws in the NPP’s Approach:

The NPP’s “upgrading” approach is fundamentally flawed because it assumes that the current system can be salvaged. But again I repeat, you cannot upgrade a system that is dead. The NPP’s policies have led to the deterioration of Ghana’s economy, and yet, they continue to push for minor adjustments instead of addressing the core issues. This approach is like trying to upgrade a phone that has already crashed—the upgrades will not work unless the system is first reset. This approach also tells us that the NPP is completely out of touch with the real state of the economy.

Government has accumulated unsustainable levels of debt, and the burden of repaying this debt falls on future generations. This cycle of borrowing and spending is not a sustainable path to development. Instead of upgrading a broken system, we need to reset the economy, rethink our priorities, and invest in areas that will drive long-term growth.

Choose the NDC for a Fresh Start:

Ghanaians face a critical choice: to continue down the path of incremental and abysmal upgrades under the NPP, or to embrace a reset under the NDC. The choice is clear. You cannot upgrade a broken system.

The NDC’s plan offers a comprehensive vision for resetting the economy and creating opportunities for all Ghanaians.

The post Ghana Rising with Nuong Faalong: Why Ghana needs a reset first appeared on 3News.

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