In a thought-provoking commentary on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Executive Director of The Ark Foundation and Chairperson of the Civic Forum Initiative, has expressed concerns about the traditional approach to the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Ghana.
Her critique highlights what she believes is a significant gap in how the country’s leaders communicate their achievements and plans to the public.
“For years, we’ve seen presidents presenting their achievements as a way to tout their legacies, boasting about completed projects and initiatives,” Dwamena-Aboagye said. “While this is important, I believe the bigger picture has been missing.”
She suggested that while the accomplishments are often acknowledged, the address should also focus on explaining how these accomplishments fit into the broader context of the country’s future.
“What do these developments mean for the future of Ghana? How do these projects align with the long-term goals for health, education, infrastructure, and other critical sectors?” she questioned.
Drawing from her experience in advocacy and civil society work, Dwamena-Aboagye argued that a key part of SONA should be a discussion of how current projects contribute to the national vision.
“If a president mentions something like Agenda 111 in the health sector, for example, they should go beyond saying, ‘I’ve started this project.’ It should be explained about the broader health goals for the country,” she stated.
Dwamena-Aboagye also touched on the education sector, where she believes there is a similar shortcoming in communication.
“When discussing education, it shouldn’t just be about listing the schools built or programs initiated. It’s crucial to present the broader vision for education and how these efforts will impact future generations,” she emphasized.
