Life can be very frustrating for most young folks living in Africa, particularly in Ghana. This is not to assert that it’s all rosy elsewhere. However, arguably, our part of the world always offers worse. Your life tends to revolve a lot around money. There’s seemingly no time for anything else. You normally work from Monday to Friday to make money and on weekends your mind is filled with how to make some more money from Monday. The weekend passes too fast and you can’t even pinpoint what exactly you did with it. Others find side jobs and gigs to make extra money over the weekend. All these make us fail to live in the moment and let time pass by without “living.” Life in the basic sense becomes what is normally termed a “rat race.”
Years ago, we could have blamed this on our ignorance when it comes to investment which affords you the opportunity to sleep or rest whilst your money works for you. Presently, the problem is not mainly ignorance. Only a few people in this category earn enough to be able to channel a part of it to investment. In a country where over 80% of the public sector workers earn less than 3,000 cedis (thus, 214 dollars presently), you would not expect it any different. Here in Africa, the hustle is evidently real!
Life expectancy in Ghana stands at 65.17, just a little above that of the continent of Africa in general which stands at 64.38. This is according to Macro trends. Over the years, Africa’s life expectancy has kept going up. Ghana has seen an upward adjustment from a life expectancy of 40.68 in 1950 to 65.17 in 2024. Even though this figure is still considered lower compared to that of more developed countries, it used to be worse. What this projection means for an average Ghanaian is that you should be preparing to exit this earth four years after retirement. Finding funerals on weekends with the deceased person just around this figure is very rampant.
Again, what this means is that for you who worked out all your life with the hope of truly living and enjoying life after retirement, you could be disappointed. Life is meant to be lived every day. This inadequacy is producing a lot of mental health patients in our societies day after day. Sadly, this health problem is rarely given any attention in our part of the world. This sole responsibility is laid upon you as an individual to do the best you can to protect your mental health.
We are often immersed too much in our seemingly incessant troubles, that we forget to live. A healthy body is a product of a peaceful mind. Amid our busyness and overwhelming problems, we’ve got to find a way to live. Do all you can to afford yourself some space. Try and spend time doing something that will afford you the chance to forget your problems, stop thinking about money, and “live for a moment.”
For some people, this could be talking with friends. For others, connecting with nature is always magical. This could be spending time in a garden, around a water body, on top of a mountain, and more. You could also spend time in the evening admiring the night sky, its stars and moon. Places of connecting with nature abound.
Immersing yourself in a hobby is another way. It could be as simple as swimming, outdoor games, or TV games. Doing creative stuff such as cooking, writing, painting or sketching is also golden.
Finally, attending outdoor events like weddings and funerals is helpful too. In Ghana, these events normally share Jollof!
Article by
Isaac Asamoah
He is a Development Planning and Development studies enthusiast. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from KNUST in Ghana. He believes in the ideals of the free market and civil liberty which YAFO Institute shares. He is also passionate about writing, digital opportunities and the future of technology.
