The Typical Same Old Ghana

Whenever relations and friends return home from abroad, there are all kinds of expectations; expectations of a different or a better Ghana, where everything is much different from what they knew of in the old Ghana, expectations of more jobs, expectation of new businesses, expectations of a drastic improvement in living conditions of people, expectations of improved delivery of goods and services.

They expect to see improved roads; of wider and high classes of roads. They expect that access to basic utilities and social amenities have seen a dramatic improvement. They expect to see good schools, and improvement in educational infrastructure. In terms of healthcare, they expect ultramodern hospitals, specialized healthcare, and an increase in facilities.

Generally however, people go home to disappointment! Yes, a decorated monkey, is still a monkey. After gliding through the beautiful principal streets from the airport, through the beautiful buildings budding within the airport city and its immediate environs, the reality begins to sink in. As one moves further and further away from the capital, everything seems to be the same.

I bet a lot of people return to their localities, and still find traces of the landmarks of their childhood love scenes, still in place. Yes, “Kwame loves Adjoa,” “Zagidibogidi was here some,” “No condition is permanent,” to mention but a few, are all writings on the wall, from the past, which can still be found on the walls of our old schools, public latrines, community centers, the old tree in the village square, to mention but  few. Everything is still the same.

It is again more disappointing, when on a simple tour around the town, we discover that the old schools, clinics, churches, to mention but a few, are in the exact state that they were, several years ago, when we left the village. Yes, the old carpentry shop is still under the same tree, this time, the tree has lost it leaves. The younger men of then, now old, sit under the old trees, as they drink to their disappointments, and lost dreams, for the women, several disappointed marriages, with children, uncared for.

At the backyard of the old village school however, close to the schools playground, a huge dump yard has emerged! As you stand and watch the children playing in the filth, all you can do is shake your head in disappointment. The few gutters that are still under construction, are already choked with rubbish. Construction on a few buildings, supposed to serve as a new community center, library, and a bigger clinic, has long since been abandoned. These buildings have already become a den for school dropouts and runaways, drug peddlers, and a local brothel. It almost seems as if every young girl has a protruding belly.

For you, this might seem like a scene from a novel, but in our various communities, cities, towns, and villages, these are the realities.

Growth and development in this country, can only be seen in our major cities, notably, the capital, and its immediate environs. These growths however, are all virtual. Ghana is the same as it was over 50 years ago, and perhaps, even worse.

We keep doing things in the same way! Do Ghanaians never get tired or bored with repetition? Are Ghanaians not tired of doing things in the exact same way? Why must we make ourselves so predictable? Our general attitude, remains the same!

Ghana has seen several milestones, and yet, access to potable water is a problem. This is even worse in our capital! Our power production and distribution, has gone worse! Our educational system is in a trying state at the moment. One strike, after the other! Our local businesses are facing hardships notably with the supply of raw materials. Our trade laws are not favouring the operations of our local businesses. Our currency, is in a freefall, and our economy, in shambles.

Oh yes, this nation has seen a dramatic increase in the turnout of students from our various educational institutions, and yet, most cannot find decent jobs. Oh yes, this nation has seen a dramatic increase in healthcare infrastructure, and yet, the quality of healthcare still remains the same.

For a country with a population of over 24 million people, how many have had access to basic education? How many have access to basic utilities and amenities? How many can actually afford basic healthcare? What about good housing? What is our poverty ratio? What is our unemployment rate?

What are the elements of a truly developing nation? What are the elements of a truly developing economy? How do we call a nation, a developing one, when everything is still the same? Does a monkey become something else, after being decorated? Does a pig change identity, after wearing a lipstick or a suit?

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com); esociocomm.blogspot.com

THE COUNTRY OF UNPROFESSIONALISM

I was in my office one afternoon when a senior engineer approached me right after he returned from town. Apparently, on his way into town earlier that morning, he had witnessed a police officer, carelessly dispose off rubbish directly onto the roadside from a patrol vehicle. It was more shocking when shortly after this shameful act, this same patrol vehicle, stopped a cargo vehicle in order to carry out the usual extortion business. 

For law enforcement officers to perpetuate this kind of behavior, is highly inexcusable! But that is the Ghana I know! Our law enforcers, readily, and openly break our laws each day! They are still at it! At our various police barriers and checkpoints! For police officers in Ghana, every day is a Sunday; they always have their collection bowls with them! That is the mark of a country of unprofessionalism! What really, is the police administration doing to end this shameful behavior, once and for all? 

Each day we keep hearing people complain about the unavailability of jobs, and yet all around me, I keep encountering a general disregard for work ethics, and workers, who seem to take their jobs for granted!

I once had to employ the services of a welder, and indeed, it was a frustrating ordeal, when I personally had to leave my job, just to drive into town to supervise this welder, in order to get a job he had already been paid, completed. A job that could have taken barely a week, took two months! Again, I employed the services of a carpenter, who virtually had to be chased around to get things done; from my numerous phone calls, to several visits. It was one deadline, after another! When it comes to the dressmakers, this same trend exists! The same goes for masons, electricians, painters, to mention but a few. Within our so-called more formal or corporate environments, the trend persists! From utilities, to service providers, the disappointments, continues! Unprofessionalism, all the way! And yet, we keep complaining!

In Ghana, anything and everything is possible! Goods are being smuggled into this country, unaccounted for! Our markets are open to anything! Standards are not being adhered to! Offices sit empty after weekends! Offices sit abandoned due to power outages! Teachers, instead of teaching, rather prefer to turn students into traders or hawkers, farmhands, house helps, to mention but a few. Government institutions, become offices to private operations! Goods, meant as donations, end up being sold! Government hospitals become backdoors to private hospitals! Law enforcement, turns to extortion! When it comes to roads and infrastructure, it is about shoddy works! There also is the misappropriations, and diversion of funds! Today in Ghana, it is the reign of judgment debts! Heightened unprofessionalism!

At the moment, all are complaining about how the government traveled all the way to china, in order to purchase ordinary furniture for our own parliament; our very own decision making body! That is the irony of the day! And yet, on this occasion, I feel no empathy for our local artisans or businesses. What I feel, is apathy! 

Hand out a contract to a local company, and you will be amazed at the outcome! From the poor delivery or standards, to several missed deadlines! Let us examine the trend of contract administration and execution in this country. I have witnessed the level of professionalism, usually exhibited by foreign firms on projects, compared to our indigenes. The difference can be spotted miles away!

Examine our political atmosphere, and again, this trend exists! Politicians do as they please, without any accountability! With complete disregard for the rules of this nation! With complete disregard for the codes and ethics they swore to! 

In the wake of the recent parliament house refurbishment, and the subsequent Chinese purchases, one thing becomes clear, we do not have faith in our own! We seem to have all kinds of professionals, and yet, this country continues to recruit foreign professionals, for projects that could very well be handled by Ghanaians! We prefer expatriates more! An attestation to the fact that the Ghanaian cannot manage his own affairs! Of course, the IMF is managing our finances too!

If today we are complaining and beating our chest for the fact that our leaders saw it prudent to import furniture, which could have very well been manufactured locally, we must bow down our heads in shame! This is a glowing tribute to our level of unprofessionalism in this country.

What time do you report to work each day? At what time do you leave your workplace? Are you able to meet your deadlines? Are you able to deliver as requested, or as promised, and at what standard? How do you treat your clients? How do you treat your workers? How do you perceive your job?

Professionalism is not just a word; it is a behavior! It is an attitude! It should become our way of life!

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com); esociocomm.blogspot.com

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE

Only a few years ago, we could tell when the rains would come. For the southern parts of the country, we knew of two rainy seasons, whiles for the northern sector, we knew of one rainy season. within these said seasons, we knew the months in which the rains were expected. On this particular morning, it is raining right outside my window. As I lay in bed listening to the rhythm of the rain as it falls unto the ground from my roof, I cannot help but wonder how things have turned. All around me, everything is changing. Yes, indeed, time changes. Back in school, I was taught that the weather was unpredictable but to some extent, we were all so sure of our rainy seasons, and the dry or harmattan seasons.

Right about this time, exactly a year ago, my company moved to a new construction site. It was quite an experience the very first day my foot touched those grounds, only within a few minutes, the rain started to pour! Without any warning! It was amazing to realize, only a few meters away, right in the neighbouring town, that it had not rained there! Not even a  single drop! For a year now, the rains have still been pouring! All around me, people keep complaining about the heavy downpours. Of course, things have changed! Even our rainfall patterns! Nothing remains the same forever! Time does change, and people also, do change!

In my beloved Ghana however, a change seems to be a problem! People keep doing the same things! Ghanaians continue to harbour the same mentalities and attitudes! It has been raining all through the year, and yet, I still hear politicians, pinning our energy crises on inadequate water for electricity production at our various hydroplants! Even with all the floods we have experienced, the overspilling of the dam in Burkina Faso, the excuses still remain the same, inadequate water at our hydroplants for electricity production! Of course, there is the other excuse of inadequate gas or fuel, for production of electricity, by our thermal plants! This problem has always persisted, but again, our Ghanaian behaviour and mentality, still rules the day! Will we ever find a long-term, if not lasting solution to this persistent problem? For goodness sakes, we are producing oil! And this oil, I believe, is not for cooking! What is this nation doing, to safeguard the future? By and by, the nations upon which we rely on for the supply of gas and fuel, are facing hurdles. What is Ghana doing about this issue? The frequent power outages, and fuel shortages, is a major buzz killer! It is a major dream killer! Businesses are failing, investors, are being driven away!

For sometime now, all are witnesses to the deterioration of our beloved Cedi. Somehow, we are being told that this deterioration, is being arrested, or has been arrested. As to what that means, you and I are yet to know. That is how bad things are.This problem has always persisted, but as always, our leadership seeks temporal solutions to these issues. Conveniently, for a brief while, the problem seems to be addressed, but just a few years down the lane, we face it once more. Various analysts have come up with all kinds of theories and yet, this problem still persists. Governments have come and gone, and yet, this problem still lives on! What is the Ghanaian doing about this problem?

How long would we sit and wait for others to solve our problems? When it comes to the financial problems of this nation, Ghana always looks up to the World Bank, IMF, etc. How long would this continue?

Change is inevitable. Society is dynamic. The weather is unpredictable. Nothing remains the same forever. The young, shall grow. When would Ghana learn to face her problems head-on? When would this nation learn to take her destiny into her own hands? How long would we remain dependent? One thing is quite clear, our donor nations, are themselves, facing hardships. Their various economies are beset with the same problems we are facing. Problems of unemployment, devaluing currencies, raw materials, to mention but a few.

Who would we turn to in a few decades to come? Where then lies our future?

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com); esociocomm.blogspot.com

MR. PRESIDENT, ARE GHANAIANS MAGICIANS?

Whenever a Ghanaian is asked how he or she is faring, the usual answer is “I’m managing.” In Ghana, all are managers. Our poor economy has earned us all management qualifications. Life in Ghana today, is just too hard! Too hard to the extent that managing, is becoming a problem by the day!

The president must sit up because gradually, I am tempted to agree that he seems to have lost his track.  Is he even aware of the state of the economy? How do we survive? By magic?

For some time now, there has been a general trend in Ghana. Prices of goods and services keep soaring by the day! Whenever the dollar rate goes up, prices of everything goes up. All but wages and salaries! When it comes to adjusting prices of fuel or utility, we invoke the so-called automatic adjustment formula. But what happens to the salaries or wages of the ordinary Ghanaian? We have no choice than to soak up the pressure! Is there no automatic adjustment formula for wages and salaries? What does the Labour Commission or TUC have to say?

From all indications, our governments have no care for the needs of her populace! How are people expected to survive, in the wake of the state of our economy? How do we manage, when there is nothing to be managed? How does the government expect people to live? Are Ghanaians magicians?

Prices of utilities have soared! Prices of food have soared! Transportation fares have gone outrageous! Even ordinary sachet water! Everything in this country has gone nuts! How does our governments and leadership, expect people to live? Workers are laboring, but are barely making a living. What is to become of us tomorrow? How long will this continue?

The cedi continues to lose value by the day. Our money has lost taste, and yet, nothing has been done about it. I keep hearing about all sorts of meetings and deliberations, and yet, no results. Nothing concrete! How long must we wait? How long will it take? How do we survive? Magically?

The kalabule season has long begun. Various business owners hoard goods and services, in wait for further depreciation of the cedi! That is the trend at our fuel stations! It is such a shame, and a disappointment, knowing that Ghanaians would rather pray that the cedi loses value to the dollar so they can gain. People are changing cedi to dollar in hope that the dollar rate keeps soaring, in hope that the cedi loses value. But can they be blamed? How far will this plague continue? Do we really have a central bank? What is the Bank of Ghana doing?

At the beginning of the year, government proposed a tax on special banking transactions. Disappointingly however, weeks after this tax was instituted, it was one tax exemption after the other. Any institution that walked into the flagstaff house, earned an exemption! Institutions that government could have generated much revenue from, were all crying for tax exemptions. Their cries were heard, and so currently, this law has been put on hold. That is a classic Ghanaian government! But what happens to the ordinary man? He continues to suffer! He still gets screwed! He continues to endure all sorts of taxations, despite his meager earnings, whiles his own government, sits and enjoys!

I do not know how long Ghanaians are expected to endure this suffering, but I believe that government must sit up! From all indications, we seem to be in a maze, and finding a way out of this maze has become a nightmare. Notwithstanding, something needs to be done, and done fast! The charade has gone on for far too long. This country is not a circus! The show is no longer interesting! We truly need better days!

How much does an average Ghanaian earn? With all these increments, how do we survive? People are really suffering in this country! People are starving! It is no joke! And this is Africa, where the family has several expectations of each other. How then do people meet these expectations? Robbery? Or magic?

The stomach, knows no strike, and so, food must be placed on tables! There are hungry mouths to be fed! Medical bills must be paid! Utilities must be paid! School fees must be paid! How do we do that? Ordinary pepper is being sold for a tooth! For sure, I am no magician!

Zimbabwe until recently, was an interesting case-study on inflation. We all saw funny pictures of people carrying several bundles of money just to purchase a mere loaf of bread. From my window, this country is fast steering in that direction. If care is not taken, we will all wake up to a new day where a truck load of money would be required to purchase a needle.

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com; esociocomm.blogspot.com)

GHANA MUST LEARN TO PRIORITIZE

In view of recent happenings, our priority as a nation comes to a huge questioning. For the average Ghanaian, the word ‘priority’ has no meaning.

Imagine parents in a typically poor home, borrowing money just to buy a piece of funeral cloth. To attend this funeral, they have to travel several kilometers. Somewhat, and rather miraculously, they find ways and means to raise this money for the journey. Meanwhile back at home in the local school, the children of these parents owe school fees.

Imagine the lengths people go to buy cellphones. Even when money for rent or utilities is a problem, we always find a way out. What about the prepaid cards for these cellphones? Interestingly, in our communities, money for food can sometimes be a problem, but when it comes  to money for phone card, your guess is as good as mine.

In Ghana today, people engage in all sorts of trivialities. For the younger ones, it is all about fashion. This is to the extent that children in poor homes, participate in this indulgence. Some are even forced to steal just to feel a part of this social niche.

Some fathers would invest their money at drinking spots, consuming several gallons of alcohol, rather than invest in their children’s future. When it comes to the mothers, it is about hairstyles and clothing.

That is the picture of the Ghanaian. And so not surprising at the trend in our political environment! From my window, I see Ghana as a country with no priorities! Even when we claim to have priorities, they are not set right!

For some time now, this country has been talking about economic hardships and lack of adequate funding or sponsorship and yet, I see wastage each day! If Ghana could spend over $ 3 million dollars on soccer, then we have a problem! I am sorry to say this, but that does not depict a country facing financial constraints! Ghana has money!

Our utilities services are failing us. And yet, Ghana saw it prudent to throw away $ 3 million dollars on football appearance fees. We spent much more on accommodation and feeding for the players and officials, supporters, to mention but few when all around us in our various cities and villages, this money could have been well-spent.

Several communities lack potable water. Several communities lack adequate health infrastructure, if any. Several others, lack good roads, schools, utilities, to mention but a few. Imagine what a million dollar could do for a village, and yet, we spent $ 3 million dollars on football! We lavished this amount on already wealthy people! As to how and why Ghana would continue to entertain such frivolities, I can only wonder.

And yet, we go a-borrowing each time we need to kick-start a project! I wish the international community would be bold enough to question our priorities during such times.

When the national youth employment project was started, some of us saw that as a nice opportunity for job creation especially among the youth. Rather sadly today, it is a program that most of us would prefer not to even mention. The whole purpose of this initiative was ruined completely. Today, the structures for its operation lie abandoned. Vehicles and machinery, ordered under the initiative sits idle. As what will happen to them eventually, your guess is as good as mine. What are Ghana’s priorities?

On our roads, the practice pot-hole patching and temporal resurfacing raises huge questions. After a heavy downpour, these gullies or potholes re-appear. The roads become far worse than they initially were. How much would have really gone into the actual construction of these roads, compared to the periodic patching?

Each year, the rains come, and with these rains come the floods. Each year, properties and lives get destroyed or taken. And yet, as always, Ghana sits and waits! How much could this country have saved if only we have taken it upon ourselves to work on our drainage structures? Most communities in Ghana lack proper drainage! And yet around us, we claim to have imposters, serving as Assembly men, DCEs, MPs, to mention but a few, all spending our money without earning it. Do we have any priorities in this nation?

Budgets are read, funds are allocated, but in the end, the purposes are not achieved. And yet, the monies get squandered! Interestingly, they return to us, asking for more! More for wastage? Until this nation, her people, and her leadership learn to manage or optimize the use of her resources, we will keep on this charade of growth and development. Ghana must wise up. We must learn to prioritize the use of our resources.

Do you have any priorities?

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com; esociocomm.blogspot.com)