Rome was not built in a day—but more importantly, Rome was not built alone. It took the collective effort of people, their shared sweat, and a united vision. That is how anything great gets done. And that is Ghana’s problem.
We are a country full of talent—brilliant minds and a youth population brimming with innovative ideas. Yet, we keep spinning in circles because everyone is building alone. Somewhere, five friends are working on the same idea separately, when they could pull their resources and expertise together to make that idea five times bigger.
Everyone wants to be the tree, but no one wants to be the soil. That is why nothing is growing. We need to connect the dots. We need to collaborate.
Even Jesus Christ—sent by God—didn’t walk alone. He chose disciples. You may argue that some betrayed him, but even that betrayal was part of the plan that led to his ultimate mission: to die for our sins.
Unfortunately, we have convinced ourselves that collaboration is a sign of weakness, or worse, irrelevance. That those who team up are people who are failing. I don’t blame you. Over the years, we’ve seen partnerships form only when collapse is near. And some people fear being labeled as someone who merely “played a part,” so they would rather build halfway alone than finish something powerful together.
Often, greed is the enemy. Why share the credit, the profit, and the perks in two—or worse, more—when you can have it all alone?
But what if we’ve gotten the whole concept of collaboration wrong?
Let me explain.
Collaboration is understanding that what you carry is only a piece of what’s needed—and what you lack, someone else has. Finding these missing pieces is not a limitation; it is a strategic move to unlock your full potential. Stay with me.
Collaboration is when people bring different strengths, ideas, and resources together—not to compete, but to complete something greater than any one person could build alone. And the maths is simple: the right additions create multiplied impact.
Yes, collaboration involves shared credit and split profits. But often, what you build together is far bigger than anything you could have done alone. So I ask: is owning a whole loaf of bread more fulfilling than having a share in an entire bakery?
Let’s take a lesson from the world’s blueprint: the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). After setting bold targets like No Poverty, Zero Hunger, and Climate Action, they added one more—Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Not because it was the least important, but because no matter how urgent the issues, nothing gets done unless we work together.
If we truly want to move Ghana forward, then we need people who are not obsessed with being seen—but committed to seeing things done. We must outgrow the mindset of hoarding credit and hogging the spotlight. Ghana does not just need big minds—it needs open minds willing to share ideas. It’s not just the strong who can fix the country—we all must join hands.
Competition may take one person to the top. But collaboration will take all of us there. And trust me, there is enough space at the top for everyone.
Do not get me wrong. Individually, we can do something. But collectively, we can do so much more. Duplicated efforts waste time. Collective efforts deliver results.
Let us start collaborating. Let us do it right. And let us do it right away.
Because truly, Ghana can do better—if we work together.
Writer: Alogn Campbell Comey