The Golden Arrowhead didn’t fail to rise. Our leadership did

At approximately 12:20 AM on May 26, 2026, my phone rang and interrupted my sleep. A very good friend of mine asked if I was watching the Diamond Jubilee Flag Raising Ceremony. I was puzzled, as I have no interest in such pomp and ceremony, especially considering that 58% of our citizens live in poverty. My friend informed me that the “Golden Arrowhead” had failed to be hoisted. Can you believe that after sixty years, we are unable to execute a simple task such as raising our national flag?

We proudly state that our country has the fastest-growing economy in the world, and I have no doubt about the validity of this claim, as several credible sources have confirmed it. Unfortunately, this economic growth does not align with human development. While our extractive industries expand, so does the GDP; however, this growth is accompanied by issues such as inequality, greed, poor governance, and corruption, among other problems.

As we celebrate 60 years of independence, it is crucial to address the issue of poor governance with urgency. Unfortunately, there seem to be no concerted efforts from the national government to tackle this problem. The government appears to deny the existence of issues related to transparency, fairness, equity, the rule of law, and accountability, among other factors. How well does the national government perform in these areas? Undoubtedly, its performance falls well below average.

It can be argued that our national government has politicised and weaponised every aspect of life in our Republic. The civil service, which was intended to be nonpartisan, now seems to operate as an extension of the ruling party. Likewise, the disciplined services exhibit similar issues. It is no surprise that corruption in public offices flourishes and spreads daily. I caution that selection and recruitment in both the civil service and the disciplined services should be based on meritocracy rather than party affiliation or mediocrity.

Fellow countrymen, we must consistently demand good governance from our leaders. We can no longer be held captive by poor governance. It is essential that we call for accountability, transparency, and all the principles of effective governance. Additionally, we must come together to eliminate poverty. We will not allow any forces to silence us through fear or bribery.