Editorial: A Good Advice, But…

In his “all-important’ Ghana’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary parade in Accra, President J. A. Kufuor lamented the way the youth of Africa have been going to the far extent , including that of even risking their lives, just to get to Europe and “hustle” there.

The President apparently expressed his worry on the matter, following reports of some Africans getting dehydrated and falling dead, while trekking on the Sahara or getting drowned in the occasional turbulence on the high seas, with their “stow-away” little boats, broken into pieces.

Certainly, one must not fail to recognize the fact that those young blooded-Africans, who undertakes the risky adventures are not oblivious of the dangers they face.

This “do or die” ventures either stem from the desperate situations in which they find themselves at home they are emboldened to do so, as a result of the way their colleagues, who manage to “get there” suddenly find the wherewithal, to take care of themselves, as well as get some extras to remit to struggling and famishing relations at home.

Of course, this means that the foreign exchange market, as far as the remittances are concerned, has been working to the advantage of the African Governments.

But can we state that the remittances have been coming from only those with resident permits and had legally gained entry into which ever countries they are now?

The answer is a big NO.

So, why do we applaud these remittances and make good use of them and at the same ask our youth to stay at home?

Indeed, we now even base part of our budget projections, on what we must expect through remittances by Ghanaians aboard.

To us, this is purely a moral issue. There need not be contradictions. Ghana is not the only country, which is running part of it budget with cash remittances from abroad.

Even some European countries, supposed to be comparatively better off than the African counter parts, keep an eye on the flow and smile over such “windfall”. Asian countries, like the Philippines, for instance, which has its citizens, all over Europe await the “cash from abroad” with pleasure.

Of course, we do not encourage the habit of some unskilled African Youth, forcing their way, at the risk of their very lives, to travel abroad, just to engage in slave-labour and be treated like animals, which have lost their way. It is demeaning.

However, we also need not pretend that the country is benefiting immensely, through the toil of some of our citizens abroad, who have not forgotten home.

Evidence of failure

For years, the disease known as yaws, got lost in the country, due to a massive onslaught mounted on it after Independence.

Although many citizens, especially those of the younger generation who live in cities might not have set an eye on a victim before, the disease is reported to spreading very fast in the rural areas, especially on the Eastern, Central and Ashanti Regions, recording the highest cases in recent times.

Another disease, whose upsurge in recent times has come as a surprise is the guinea worm, which was virtually wiped out during the Rawlings era.

Former American President Jimmy Carter, during a recent visit to the country, expressed surprised that the disease could rather be seen spreading instead of fizzling out.

Jimmy Carter had been spearheading a programme, in the fight against the diseases and had once praised the then authorities for sustaining the programme as it was heading towards success. The evidence was there.

So, how come that these disease, associated with poor environment and poverty-stricken areas, be seen to be staging a come-back, at a time that the Government is claiming to be improving the living conditions of the people and alleviating poverty?

The truth is that the claims are false and the diseases are providing the evidence to debunk the lies.

The Ministry of Health, alone, can’t be faulted. It is a reflection of the Government’s failure to improve the living conditions of the people, which has caused it all!