CRUCIFYING OUR GHANAIAN ECONOMY

Being a Ghanaian in today’s Ghana, is excruciatingly expensive. A simple meal cost virtually nothing not long ago. Gari and beans, known to many, and by many, as an affordable meal is now a fallacy. For our children, saving some coins for the occasional forbidden toffees is now an act of luxury; each penny counts. As the cedi keeps losing value, most of us are in a state of helplessness.

How do I survive, is the question we keep asking ourselves each day. How do I pay for my next meal? How do I pay for my upcoming rent? How do I pay for my utilities? How do I pay for the school fees of my children? How do I pay for healthcare? I keep working, but cannot even save, is a common song of most Ghanaian workers.

Quite recently, my mother contracted a young man to weed around the house. After diligently carrying out his contract which was barely a 32 square meter area, this young man when asked of his charge boldly let out, “hundred and twenty Ghana cedi.” I was actually beset with rage when I came home to hear this. After pondering over this for a while, I realized that he seemed justified. All around him, prices were soaring! Prices of all kinds of goods and services were being inflated! Notwithstanding, did he actually deserve what he was demanding?

This is the trend in Ghana today. Ghanaians are crucifying our economy in the name of inflation. We are devaluing our currency because what should cost nothing is being sold at the cost of human life!

Do you know that a simple haircut can cost as much as 15 cedis? Do you also know that a simple makeup can cost about 600 cedis? One tomato costs one cedi. A finger of banana is costing a fortune. Even ordinary kenkey with fish is now expensive. When it comes to transportation, the rates are overwhelming. I once chartered a taxi and upon hearing what my fare was, I asked the driver if he was taking me across the border to Togo. Accommodation and rent these days is a nightmare! Common “momoni” is now being sold at dollar equivalence!

Is there a regulatory body monitoring the activities of our traders? Is there really a consumer protection agency? The only appeals I hear usually go to the government. What about our local traders? Who regulates their operations?

We need to start learning to give value for money! People are only too eager to increase prices of goods and services, at the mere hint of impending prices adjustments, even when it does not apply to them! Our traders are all trailing the foreign currencies in hope of increments, so they can immediately adjust their prices. It is quite interesting, and again, disappointing, when in the same neighbourhood, prices of same goods vary considerably from stall to stall. In Ghana, prices of goods and services never reduce, even when it calls for reduction; it only keeps increasing. This is being perpetrated by Ghanaians!

We keep claiming that the change in dollar rates is affecting everything we do and so conveniently, we up our charges! When will Ghanaians learn to give true value to our currency? Disappointingly, most Ghanaians seem not to care. We only take pride in telling others that an ordinary haircut that should cost not more than five cedis, is costing twice the actual value. For the ladies, an ordinary hairdo is costing a fortune. When it comes to makeup, the smudges, costs a fortune! Funerals, are costing us fortunes! Imagine families, spending over 40,000 hard Ghanaian cedi on a funeral! Afterwards, we blame the dollar; everything had to suffer the exchange rates! Unwarranted extravagance!

We have all been asking questions as how rapidly our cedi is losing value. We have all been looking up to our leadership for solution. In our own ways, we have been trying to find answers.

What about the wastage or unnecessary or easily avoidable costs? All these loose monies, find their way into our economy, but cannot be captured by our central bank. In the end, our money keeps depreciating. Does it make any economic sense, paying far more for any goods or services than is actually deserved? Most Ghanaians are guilty of this crime. We feel proud or important when we pay more for something that should cost less. Due to our so-called social status, some people find it hard bargaining for goods and services. They only pay anything that is demanded of them. Is it then surprising that we are saddled by caliber of leaders, who have complete disregard for our needs? We make no demands! Ghanaians must start demanding value for money for when we fail to do so, we crucify our economy. That is practical economics. That is our responsibility as citizens. Of course, we only blame our politicians for our woes, but what about ourselves?

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

GHANA MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE

Today in Ghana, all are reaping the hard fruits our labour; for some, the hard fruits of the labour of our predecessors or forefathers. Posterity would always be the judge. In our own ways, we are better judges of the state of Ghana today. If you do not like what you see in Ghana today, that is the same picture we are all painting for posterity.

I am not here to talk about how bad our economy is, and further point accusing fingers. I am only here to call on all of us, awake, or asleep, to be on guard. For whatever we are going through, , we are all accountable, as citizens. Ghanaians must be held accountable. Ghana must be held accountable!

From time immemorial, it has always been Ghana’s practice of soliciting for aid. Why must we keep on begging? How long we would continue with this rather unfortunate practice? Our sponsors are all experiencing a global recession; who do we turn to now in the midst of these crises? Each day, it becomes more obvious. Why do we call this nation, an independent one, when in truth, we are far from being independent? Ghana must be held accountable!

This is a country to be envied by all. A country well-resourced with almost all, if not all the resources any nation can boast of; from our water bodies, forestry, minerals, livestock and most importantly, to our human resource wealth. This country keeps exploiting tons of minerals each day to be shipped and yet in the end, millions of dollars is spent just to import the products of these raw materials back. We actually spend more than they get paid for! Talk about our foodstuffs and livestock; we are hailed as major food producers, and yet, we cannot even produce enough to feed ourselves! We keep supplementing with all sorts of imported products. We spend more on importation than production. Talk about our gold, cocoa, diamond, and the resulting finished products; more is spent on importation of the finished goods than the actual exportation. We spend more in the name of foreign exchange. Ghana must be held accountable!

Ghana spends much more on loans than we actually receive, considering all the amounts paid as interests on these loans. Simply because these loans get squandered! I am not here to point fingers, but again, we are all witnesses to the recent gross mismanagements that we keep hearing about; the saga of judgment debts! It is really disturbing and shameful to see the extent to which hunger and greed can take us. The very people, who have been entrusted to secure our interests, are the very ones cutting us down. We only point fingers at the politicians, but what about the lay people we know of in our communities and workplaces. I sometimes wonder what goes through the minds of these people. How do you spend money entrusted in your care for a project, and somehow expect to go scot-free? Of course, they go scot-free! Ghana must be held accountable!

In the past, various stories have been unveiled, to which all have applauded. But what has happened to the people exposed by these stories? Corruption in Ghana keeps growing by the day! This rot is fast reaching across the globe! It is a huge disgrace to my integrity as a person. It is a huge disgrace to this nation. Simply because, we do nothing about it! Manasseh Azure came up with an interesting but rather shameful expose of the rot in this nation. As usual, the story got the airplay and discussion befitting any ordinary talk show. Afterwards, the debate ends! What is our government, doing about it? What are we doing about it? Of course, how does an accused, punish an accused? How does an accused point accusing fingers? How do the guilty punish the guilty? And so, the rot continues. Ghana must be held accountable!

Globally, there is a recession. Economies are crippling. Governments are finding it tough solving their various economic problems. Money is hard to come by. There is no money to be wasted. There is no money to be lent out by donor nations, especially to be squandered. In Ghana, all I see is the excess of wastage! Funny enough, our governments talk about lack of funding! Taxes are being increased, to be wasted afterwards. Government expenditure, keeps on soaring, mostly wasted on frivolities. A so-called developing economy, which would rather spend huge sums of revenue generated funds, on obtaining new fleets of government vehicles, just to look good. We go a-borrowing, while parading all sorts of excesses and gluttony. Expenditure on government entourage on an ordinary mission can sponsor the project for which the mission was necessitated. Are we serious? Ghana must be held accountable!

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

GHANA’S INDEPENDENCE: ANOTHER MILESTONE OR WASTED YEARS?

Ghana is 57years old. On this occasion, and like several others, I am in a dilemma; should I jubilate or weep. Should I shout ‘hurray’, pop champagne, give a toast, sound the trumpet, light explosives, play the drum, as normally happens with birthdays and other milestones? Milestones of achievements or success perhaps? Or should I bow down my head and weep? Weep for the underachievement and underdevelopment I see around me. Weep for the people we have become, as suggested by a friend a couple of weeks ago?

Where are the visionary vistas?

Can they be found in our leadership of misappropriations, bribery and corruption, bi-partisanship, selfishness, gluttony, to mention but a few?  A leadership of misguided priorities, if any! Can they be found in a citizenry of lazy, corrupt, nonchalant, passive, selfish, tribalistic, and godlessness?

For today, I can only weep. I weep for men like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the big six, who were instrumental in the fight for our freedom. Considering the misadventures in this nation, I doubt whether we were actually prepared for the responsibilities or perhaps, consequence of that freedom. I weep for the soldiers or ex-service men who sacrificed their lives to build this nation. I weep for our great-great grandparents who lost their lives in this struggle. I weep for the good people of old, who worked tirelessly in securing this land, her resources, and her heritage. Most importantly, I weep for the few, struggling each day to uphold truth, freedom, justice, devotion, and most importantly, the spirit of patriotism.

And to what avail?

That we will trade off this land and all her resources for our selfish interests? That we will throw away our heritage? That we will allow bi-partisanship tear us apart? That we will allow bi-partisanship kill the spirit of patriotism? That the current breed of Ghanaians would scramble for any ship that would pull into our docks to take us to foreign lands for so-called greener pastures? That we will allow all sorts of dictatorship and neocolonialism pervade us? That we will underutilize our God-given talents and resources or in most cases, misuse them?

This is the nation we call home. This is our motherland. That is the people Ghana has begot! That is the people we have become! And so on this Independence Day, I weep! Many may choose to call the rainfall on 6^th of March 2014, showers of blessings, but I choose to call it a storm of pain, bitterness, sorrow and disappointment! It was no shower, as we prefer to call it. It was a heavy downpour, an outpour of grief and sorrow. Ghana must wake up.

Ghana is our heritage, secured for us, at the peril of priceless lives. This is a legacy. What have we done with this legacy? What have we done to this legacy? What will be said of us tomorrow?

Indeed, Ghana has come this far, through our collective efforts and effortlessness. Have we done enough? Considering the level of literacy and resources available back then, both human and otherwise, much more was achieved. In Ghana today, all kinds of resources are at our disposal. How useful have they been?

At our workplaces are stories of underemployment. We keep talking about unemployment, and yet, a considerable percentage has jobs, but is not working satisfactorily. We keep talking about better conditions of service when we do not merit it. It is all about greed and laziness. What are we doing for this nation? We may blame our leadership, but we are the government. We are no different from our leadership; from the same stock.

What is your dream for this nation?

A dream of robbery, stealing, murder, bribery and corruption, embezzlement, and all kinds of crimes, perhaps? A dream of laziness, self-pity, and mediocrity? A dream of resentment, hatred, to mention but a few? Ghana deserves much better.

Our governments seem to gamble, try and error in finding solutions to our problems. In the end, they lose their way; they get lost in the maze they create. Others get drowned.

Ghana is 57 years old, at least, old enough. For most 57 year olds, three years to retirement. As a nation, we should be at the peak of our development. Rather sadly, Ghana is far from that. For once, let us stop the try and error approach. Let us put a stop to gambling this nation away. For now, I can only look forward to another year; another milestone, or wasted years…….

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

SILENCE

"In our world are people who live in perpetual joy and happiness…
Others have been confined to perpetual sadness…
This is a life of no escape…
They suffer in pain…
Their pain, concealed…
Their tears unshed…
Their pleas, unheard…
Their scars, unseen…
There is no escape…
They suffer in silence…
The world of silence is one of darkness…
The world of the silent is one of several stories…
Stories better left untold…
These are stories of hidden truths, the bitter truth perhaps...
Better left unsaid, better left unheard…
For this, its victims had prices to pay.”…

My Ghanaian Economy; So so wahala

For those who know me personally, I have always been a fan of President Mahama but considering all that is currently facing this nation, I must ask: Bosso, how far? Because all around me, it is so so wahala!!!

Bosso, how far now? This country is facing several hardships. This bus seems to be steering off course, and so, we need to alert our driver.

For a fact, most countries are facing hardships. It is a global recession. My Italian colleagues would tell me that, on the average, most people in Italy earn below their average household expenditure. In the United Kingdom, things are no different. Even in America, God’s own supposed country, things are quite tough, and have been for a while now. What then becomes of our poor economy? Our economy, that is so reliant on foreign aid. Our economy that depends on foreign economies! In a country where we go carrying collection bags at various summits purposely for funds for almost all projects. A country that goes a-borrowing each time a project needs to be executed. So so wahala.

Quite recently, I heard on the news that Ghana made at least 800million dollars from our oil revenue. What has, or what will become, of that money? I live in Takoradi, and I keep asking myself this question on a daily basis; what is happening to the revenues from our oil exploration. We keep boasting of our oil country, but what is happening to that money? What of the oil? Yes, this country is earning from her oil find, but are Ghanaians enjoying the true benefits, if any? Until then, it is so so wahala.

I know some may argue that these monies are being used as subsidies but subsidies to what? Considering the current daily tax upsurges, I have serious doubts. Rather sadly, the usual talks continue. It is always talks about government putting in measures to secure our currency! Measures to curb inflation! To the average man, a hodgepodge of meaningless words! Are they any true measures? Like most measures put in place in the past, we feel the sting each day. Ghana never takes a holistic measure in addressing issues. We only put in temporal solutions, and then as always, a few years down the lane, nemesis catches up with us. So so wahala.

The economic hardships we are facing in this nation did not just pop up on us one morning like a surprise! It was gradual! There were warning signs, but our leadership ignored them. The poor state of our economy is because our leaders have failed to find lasting solutions to our developmental issues. Yes, the issues this country is facing are mere developmental issues, and not mystics. Our leadership only gives it surface dressings as solutions. Just like how we treat potholes on our roads! So so wahala!

Can Ghana ever learn to tackle issues from the foundation? Leaders come and go, and yet rather disappointingly, they leave without finding lasting solutions to our problems. In Ghana today, prices of utilities keep soaring each day. Can our governments not learn to take a bold step by increasing these prices once to cover a considerable period? That would save us the yearly or considering our current situation, the daily increments. Our central bank is talking about closing down dollar accounts, and yet, there are talks of exemptions, and so, in the end, the standards are further lowered! We keep talking about inflation but to what avail? Can these daily increments in any way, stabilize our economy? Of course, our dirty politics is quite elusive to the realities surrounding us. So so wahala.

Our central bank has now seen the need to forestall local transactions in foreign currencies. I am indeed surprised at how long it has taken us to come to this reality. But the question is: how many Ghanaians have dollar accounts or largely trade on such terms? It falls back to those on top! Yes, we are the cause of our own problems and so, in finding solutions, we conveniently go on a wild goose chase! We have made our markets and economy so susceptible! And for what? Our selfish interest, as always! So so wahala.

Can our governments really solve our problems? I am not happy with the current happenings in this nation.

President Mahama has been behind the steering wheel of this bumpy ride for some time now and as an optimist, I look forward to when he would turn this bumpy ride into a safe and smooth cruise. Until then, the future seems really bleak. So so wahala. Bosso, how far? It is so so wahala.

THE ORDINARY THIEF VERSUS THE CORPORATE THIEF

It is an undeniable fact that in Ghana today, all sorts of crimes go unpunished. Culprits go scot-free each day. On the other hand, and rather unfortunately, a group of people get punished for these same crimes. Yes, the corporate thieves get a pat in the back for the very crimes for which the ordinary thief gets a slap in the face! That is how unfair life can be.

A bodyguard has recently been sentenced to 20years for attempted forgery and theft. He has gotten the full sentence. What baffles me is how quickly he was prosecuted! Indeed, it was fast-tracked! And for what? 800 Ghana cedis. 20years in prison.

But what happens to a minister or an MP, accused or arrested of the same crime? Did I say the same crime? My apologies; let me re-phrase it. What happens to a minister or an MP, accused or arrested for gross misappropriations or diversion of funds? He is asked to proceed on leave! Only that? Yes, just that! Proceed on leave, and the crime goes away. And what happens to our money? This is the Ghana we are nurturing.

In the same way, in our various organizations and institutions, the junior worker gets arrested for a petty theft, whiles the senior staff gets transferred or quietly discharged. And so, the era of double standards, continues.

As citizens, we ought to be concerned about such issues. What happened to “What is good for the goose is good for the gander”? Indeed, what is good for the goose is good for the gander! People steal from this nation each day, and continue to do so comfortable, to our unfortunate admiration. Our leaders are stealing each day and yet, we act ignorantly. Of course, as soon as an ordinary thief is caught, he quickly gets the full penalty.

Do not get me twisted. I am no advocate of crime, neither am I an advocate for, or of criminals. I am but an ordinary and concerned citizen who wants justice. I believe that all crimes are, and should be punishable. I am not in support of any crime or criminal but in enforcing punitive measures, we need justice. If we want peace, we need to embrace justice. The law was made for us all, and not just the ordinary man.

Why should our leaders go unpunished for the kinds of atrocities they keep committing? Have we ever stopped to consider the fact that situations influence our actions or inactions? People commit all sorts of crimes out of desperation. As a people, we ought to be more concerned about the root causes of problems, and not just the solutions.

Countless people live in poverty and desperation in this country. People are finding it difficult making ends meet. Several go to bed on empty stomachs. To make a single meal a day is a hurdle for many people. Paying utilities is practically becoming impossible with each growing day. Our currency is fast losing value. Prices of basic utilities and amenities are becoming an impossibility. For many people, obtaining jobs is only but a dream; jobs are not available. In the midst of this struggle, taxes are increasing. To make things worse, our leadership seems only interested in squandering our already scarce resources. Our taxes are being squandered lavishly.

And what do we do? Nothing! And yet, as soon as an ordinary and hungry man steals a piece of bread, he gets beaten or even lynched. Or gets a full penalty of several years in prison, for a common loaf of bread, a goat, fowl, cell phone, a few coins, whiles the man in suit, who is looting this nation, gets a pat on the back. He only has to append his signature, and the crime goes away.

Imagine the millions of cedis that have disappeared from our national coffers due to corporate theft. We only have to use a pen and paper. Consider the number of shady deals this nation has encountered in the past, and in recent times. Consider the number of times such cases have been covered up. And so, the theft continues. Corporate theft!

We must wake up before it is too late. Yes, there is a punishment to every crime, and our law makes that possible. Even without a law, there is the natural law of karma, but what do we do as a people, in ensuring fairness in the rule of law? In our prisons are people convicted for crimes they have not committed. Rather unfortunately, they are rotting in jail; some, forgotten by their families and friends. Rather ironically, the real criminals operate freely, under the umbrella of our laws. They move around freely, under the umbrella of government. We even help cover their crimes! Have our laws only be made for the ordinary people?

Where is this nation moving? Where are we going as a people?

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

CARELESS TALK, MAKE MONKEY FALL DOWN

For those who have no appreciation for Pidgin English or the colloquial English, this heading, would be difficult to interpret, but indeed, “Careless talk, make monkey fall down”. Literally, “Careless talk made the monkey fall”. Yes, the monkey did not fall from climbing any tree. He fell because, he made a careless remark; the loss of concentration led to the fall perhaps.

Indeed, it is fast becoming my favourite adage, courtesy, Ebenezer Nyamekye, a steel bending foreman at my work place, who never ceases to share this each day; as a constant reminder. We should be mindful of what we say, bottom line.

If there should be an award for the most popular personality currently in Ghana, one person would not escape this award. And if indeed, we would want to categorize this gender wise, again, this personality would be the ultimate winner. Not even our favourite Hon. Alfred Agbesie Wayome, would even contend. All, due to a simple conversation; of self appraisal, and over-cooked hyperboles or over-exaggerations. Careless talk!

Yes, Victoria Hammer has made the headlines, and would remain on top of the chart for a while! All over the country, her name reigns. Should royalties be paid, she would make the controversial $1 million overnight due to a million dollar conversation! Yes, careless talk, make monkey fall down.

The question is; how many of us are innocent of her supposed crime? Indeed, most of us, if not all, are liable. We talk too much. One simple conversation leads to so many issues. One innocent telephone conversation to say hello, leads to issues on our personal life, work, relatives, friends, sports, economy, politics, gossips, to anything we can imagine. The only difference between us and Madam Hammer is that, we have not yet been caught on tape.

If indeed we could eavesdrop on all telephone conversations, I wonder how many of us would bear to look our close friends and relatives in the face. Yes, careless talk, make monkey fall down.

On tape, Hon. Victoria Hammer was caught talking about how much it could perhaps take for her to consider quitting politics. Obviously, the ‘business’ is quite lucrative considering her target. This country continues to wallow in poverty and deprivation; majority of Ghanaians continue to suffer, simply because as a people, we are only interested in looting this nation dry. All we think of is what we stand to gain, and not what we can do. For a deputy minister to make such a remark, only gives a hint of the kind of canker or disease growing or spreading in our various ministries.

It is no surprise that such are the conducts and misconducts occurring in our institutions. For our ministries, it is disheartening. Our national coffers are being looted, by day. Let us consider the number of abandoned projects in this country. Let us consider the daily loss of revenue. Let us consider the poor nature of our roads, utilities and services, infrastructure, to mention but a few. Consider all the monies that keep disappearing due to supposed judgment debts. Let us consider how monies, meant for projects, are usually distributed in the contracting stages. It is no secret! That million dollar tape was no revelation, but rather, a confirmation. Ghana is in trouble!

The reality in our country is that most of our leaders are only interested in stealing from us. Victoria Hammer is but an alarm of caution! Indeed, we are in trouble! Considering the number of people, parading as government officials, what does this leave this nation, should each have an ambition like Madam Hammer? Poverty and deprivation! Is it then surprising that we keep retrogressing? Can corruption ever be uprooted? Can we even trace the roots?

There are several other Victoria Hammers yet to be uncovered. And until they are caught, our funds would keep disappearing.  There are several out there, scheming to rob us off our resources. There are several others stealing from this nation each day. Of course, the thief is always the one who gets caught. Until then, he is a good citizen.

There are several Hammers out there, waiting to be hammered, and I do pray for that day. For now, Victoria Hammer has only fallen victim to her own hammer. Careless talk make monkey fall down. Ghana must wake up, and do so quickly.

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