A Country in Reverse Gear?-(By Brother Fred Apenteng) 

That innocent yet profound question captured the reality many in Ghana — and across Africa — wrestle with daily: the gap between the promise of independence and the lived experience of today.

For her generation, the idea that Ghana once had sleeper trains and a vibrant railway network seems almost mythical. For my generation, it is a lived memory. This contrast — between disbelief and experience — is why I write today.

The Signs of Reverse Gear

Her question reminded me of how much has been lost or stalled over time. Ghana’s early years were marked by bold visions and big projects. But later decades brought political instability, economic missteps, and poor governance that eroded those gains.

Like vehicles, nations are meant to move forward. Their engines — institutions, industries, education systems, civic values — should propel them toward progress, prosperity, and justice. But sometimes, instead of accelerating, a nation slips into reverse gear.

The signs are rarely subtle:

• A return to outdated policies.
• The erosion of freedoms.
• Declining living standards.
• The triumph of rhetoric over reason.

A country in reverse gear is one where leaders invoke past glories but fail to build a sustainable future. Economic reforms stall, innovation is stifled, and talent flees abroad. Roads, hospitals, and schools crumble, while scarce resources are drained on short-term fixes and political theatrics. Citizens feel trapped—moving, yet going nowhere.

Socially, reverse gear reveals itself in the erosion of tolerance and civic unity, seen recently in some of the barbaric acts seen at polling stations during elections. Diversity becomes a fault line rather than a strength.

Freedoms shrink under the guise of security. Historical wounds are reopened to score political points. A nation that once embraced modernity risks becoming hostage to old prejudices and rigid ideologies.

Economically, reverse gear means dependence over self-reliance. Instead of investing in research, technology, and skilled labor, governments rely on resource exploitation, imports, and foreign loans. This creates a vicious cycle of debt, dependency, and despair.

Shifting Gears Forward Yet, just as a driver can shift gears, a country can recalibrate. Reverse need not be permanent. Honest leadership, accountable governance, and inclusive policies can restore momentum. Investments in education, innovation, and social justice can shift the wheels toward sustainable forward motion.

Most importantly, it requires citizens who are awake, aware, and unwilling to settle for less. A country in reverse gear is not doomed — but it cannot afford to stay there for long. Progress demands courage, foresight, and the humility to learn from mistakes.

Only then can Ghana, and nations like it, leave the backward slide and set their wheels firmly on the road to a brighter future.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by authors of all Opinion Pieces published by the Eco-Enviro News,Africa magazine, are their sole individual opinions and may not  necessarily represent it’s official position.