In Ghana, it’s common to hear the phrase, “This is how we do things here.” It’s said with a smile, sometimes a shrug, but often it’s a cover, a shield used to defend habits that are neither efficient nor helpful. A shield that protects poor habits. A shield that makes us comfortable with mediocrity. A shield that deflects responsibility in the name of “Chale So We Dey – It’s Tradition”.
Key Soap – The Tradition goes on. lol
One of the most common examples is what we jokingly call “Ghana Man Time – GMT.” It’s the socially accepted norm of arriving late to almost everything. From church services to state functions. If a program is scheduled for 10AM, it’s not unusual for it to begin well past noon. We laugh about it, expecting the delay, and in some cases, feeling awkward when we actually show up “on time.”
Let’s face it. GMT has become a quiet thief that steal hours from our lives.
But lateness, when repeated consistently, becomes more than an inconvenience. It signals a broader cultural acceptance of disregard for time, for structure, and ultimately for people.
The Problem Behind the Excuse
It’s not that Ghana lacks values. Far from it. We are known for our warmth, hospitality, and strong sense of community. But when these values are used to justify inefficiency or inaction, they become a double-edged sword.
Lateness isn’t culture.
It’s disrespect.
It’s time lost.
It’s trust lost.
It’s progress postponed.
These are not harmless quirks of identity, they are barriers to growth. As the late Professor P.L.O. Lumumba often argues, culture should never be an excuse for stagnation. It should evolve, not imprison us.
Why It Persists
Many of these habits persist because they are comfortable. They’ve been normalized over time and are rarely challenged openly. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of us indeed abhor this and it’s not uncommon to find tweets and posts online about this but the bigger issue is, in some cases, they’re reinforced by systems that reward compliance and discourage critical thinking because people fear confrontation.
Culture is not a fossil. It’s a living system. It can grow. It should grow.
Even our education system, historically rooted in colonial structures, often teaches memorization over innovation preparing people to follow routines rather than question them. When the broader society resists change, culture becomes the convenient scapegoat: “This is who we are.” But that statement begs a deeper question: Who do we want to be?
Because not all tradition is sacred. Some of it is just old. And if we don’t question it, we pass it on – unquestioned.
A Culture That Evolves
Culture is not static. It is shaped by people, practices, and time. Just as language evolves, so should customs. Countries like Rwanda have made significant strides in reshaping national identity by challenging harmful norms and investing in a results-driven culture. Their approach to punctuality, cleanliness, and national service demonstrates that culture can be redefined through intentional policy, education, and consistent leadership.
So What Can We Do?
Individually and collectively;
1. Respect Time: Start programs and meetings on time, every time. People will catch on. Institutions and event organizers must take the lead.
2. Celebrate Excellence & Reward Professionalism. Not Just Age or Title: Shift respect toward performance, not position.
3. Educate for Critical Thinking: Add civic education to classrooms and community spaces. Teach the difference between tradition and harmful repetition.
4. Speak Up: When “culture” is used as an excuse for failure, challenge it constructively. Not rudely, but firmly. We can disagree without dishonor.
5. Lead by Example: Be the change. At home. At work. In how you serve others. If you run a business, start meetings on time. If you’re a parent, teach your children that respect is earned, not demanded blindly. Each of us can be the culture shift we want to see.
This creates a new standard that others will gradually respect.
Conclusion
We don’t need to abandon our culture to move forward. We just need to refine it. Ghana has every reason to be proud of its roots. But pride should not keep us from pruning the parts of our heritage that no longer serve us.
The future will not wait for us to catch up. And we can’t keep blaming tradition for our refusal to grow.
Culture is what we create, not just what we inherit. It should reflect our values and not our fears.
Let’s move from “This is how we do it” to “This is how we do it better.” And most importantly be intentional about what we carry forward.
#IanJazziWrites #FellowGhanaians #DearGhanaians #GhanaManTime #GMT