Unlock Your Path to Success with These 3 Essential Shortcuts
A troubling trend is taking root in Ghana, where illegal mining (galamsey), internet fraud, and politics are increasingly seen as the quickest routes to success. This observation, made by Kwame Sowu, highlights a system where legitimate pathways to wealth and influence are perceived as slow and inaccessible.
Galamsey, despite its dangers and illegality, offers immediate financial gains to those willing to take the physical risks. Similarly, internet fraud promises rapid returns for individuals with digital skills. Meanwhile, politics, for many, has morphed from public service into a lucrative career path, where power often translates to personal enrichment.
What’s particularly alarming is the growing intersection between these three spheres. According to Sowu, some individuals involved in fraudulent activities and illegal mining are now financing political campaigns or directly entering the political arena. This allows them to shield their illicit operations, expand their networks, and operate with greater impunity, ultimately undermining governance.
This situation isn’t merely a matter of isolated criminal acts; it’s a symptom of deeper systemic issues. A lack of robust merit-based systems, limited opportunities for youth employment in legitimate industries, and a perceived disconnect between effort and reward are driving factors, Sowu argues.
The consequences extend beyond the economic realm, posing a significant moral hazard. The normalization of shortcuts over hard work erodes societal values and discourages honest endeavors. “It creates a society where the patient teacher, the honest technician and the disciplined entrepreneur feel like fools for playing by the rules,” Sowu writes.
Simply condemning these activities is insufficient, Sowu contends. Ghana needs to actively create and promote legitimate avenues for success. This includes fostering industries that offer fair wages, improving access to credit for small businesses, enhancing vocational training programs, and ensuring that public service is based on competence and integrity.
“We cannot keep blaming the youth for choosing the only doors that appear open. Instead, we must redesign the house,” Sowu concludes. He emphasizes that building a future founded on integrity, innovation, and industry requires providing opportunities that genuinely compete with the allure of quick, illicit gains. Until then, galamsey, fraud, and politics will likely remain the most tempting paths to success in Ghana.
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