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)