GHANA COMMENTARIES, by Anna Esi Hanson

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

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

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 aw

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 Lab

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 home