Cedi fall deepens Ghana’s cocoa smuggling troubles

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ZoRRo 11 years ago

The Vice President once said that the falling cedi was good for the economy. What do we see now ? Our main export is being smuggled across the open border for harder currency. These are the kinds of people leading the country ...
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The Vice President once said that the falling cedi was good for the economy. What do we see now ? Our main export is being smuggled across the open border for harder currency. These are the kinds of people leading the country into this downward spiral. The Government must take emergency measures to stop the downward spiral: both short term and more long term plans.
Nana Kwame 11 years ago

its all propaganda. if you tell people something and keep repeating it they will eventually believe you. We all know the leaders do not have a clue about economics or management

its all propaganda. if you tell people something and keep repeating it they will eventually believe you. We all know the leaders do not have a clue about economics or management
Jato Julor (J.J.) Rawlings 11 years ago

Do we need the NDC at all in Ghana ?

The killer-gangsters, who held this nation to ransom from the 31st December 1981 till 7th January 2001, left Ghana a highly indebted poor country(HIPC).

For 19 autocratic years, the ...
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Do we need the NDC at all in Ghana ?

The killer-gangsters, who held this nation to ransom from the 31st December 1981 till 7th January 2001, left Ghana a highly indebted poor country(HIPC).

For 19 autocratic years, the GDP of Ghana was just $3.8 billion under these killer-gangsters of the NDC and the national debt was over $6.1 billion.

Knowing that they owe the good people of Ghana accountability for their 11 brutal inhumane years in power, they smuggled the indemnity clauses into the 1992 constitution and refused to hand over to a transitional govt to conduct a free and fair election.

They went ahead to select their members to staff the Electoral Commission and to help them rig elections.

When they were finally booted out of power, inflation was 48%, interest rates was 52% and national debt was 137% of GNP.

Fast forward to 2009:
After finding themselves in power with the help of Afari Gyan's electoral commission, these killer-gangsters have within a period of just 6 years sky-rocketed the national debt from $8.6 billion to over Gh¢56 Billion.

Statutory payments are in arrears;a lot of contractors haven't been paid for over 15 months;Some Doctors haven't been paid for months;Waste collectors haven't been paid for months; no chalks for teachers in our basic schools;the cedi is in a free fall e.t.c.

And for the over $20 billion debt that the NDC stealers have hanged over the necks of Ghanaians, there is not a single viable project to justify this huge debt.

Do we need the NDC at all in Ghana ?
OYOKOBA 11 years ago

Back in the day when Kufour was chalking unprecedented growth in developing the national economy, Atta Mess only explanation of why the NDC could NOT do so in the 19years they were in power was that Kufour was only lucky, as ...
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Back in the day when Kufour was chalking unprecedented growth in developing the national economy, Atta Mess only explanation of why the NDC could NOT do so in the 19years they were in power was that Kufour was only lucky, as if luck and miracles were all that we needed to steer the economy to higher prosperity.

The point is NDC is useless and incompetent. The NDC invertebrates only know how to spin propaganda and insult. Last year, with oil in the midst, Ghana only afforded 7.1% GDP growth. When you take the oil out, we chalked less than 3% GDP growth, and their lame excuse is everybody is suffering around the world. Nkwaseasu, who told you everybody, is suffering around the globe?

NDC is just bad business for Ghana, how can a whole vice-president claim that depreciation is good for a non-manufacturing economy like ours. Go figure, Ivory Coast is the one benefiting from our fast depreciating cedi. Togo and Burkina Faso will not be far to benefit from oil smuggling across the border. We have tintintos in charge, what else can we expect?
KOLA, LONDON PROPER 11 years ago

The Kuffuor led Maladroit government promised the world of a new Ghana cedi will gain value when pegged with the dollar, what we have now is not what was promised.Nothing was put in place by this illiterate Bawumia and his Ko ...
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The Kuffuor led Maladroit government promised the world of a new Ghana cedi will gain value when pegged with the dollar, what we have now is not what was promised.Nothing was put in place by this illiterate Bawumia and his Kookoase economic gurus to sustain the parity of the cedi with other major currency.

When you do monetization, it means you have deliberately pegged your currency to the major ones with the hope that it's value will cope or improve.

Having this, we expected the BOP to improve through prudent economic policies but Bawumia's Dagati economic policies coupled with that of Koookoase bush meat economics only saw more importation of rice from india when Ghana could have invested in agriculture to produce own rice.And so, Bawumia should not think Ghanaians are illiterate as he is.

At this stage of our economic development, the only way is to borrow but invest the borrowing wisely into productive activities such as what the current government is doing.

That said, Bawumia should stop his Dagati economics as these days even the Kookoase opposition npp MP's are well awake.
nic 11 years ago

thank you sir.

thank you sir.
Komla Agbeshie (Ho) 11 years ago

Mahama has failed us and we need a positive change. NO BETTER GHANA AGENDA !!!!

Mahama has failed us and we need a positive change. NO BETTER GHANA AGENDA !!!!
CONTRIBUTION AGAIN 11 years ago

tHIS METHOD OF BUILDING HAS SERVED US FOR CENTURIES AND WE STILL LIVES IN HOUSES. Who said we need skyscrappers to have a room.

tHIS METHOD OF BUILDING HAS SERVED US FOR CENTURIES AND WE STILL LIVES IN HOUSES. Who said we need skyscrappers to have a room.
THEM DEY PROPER 11 years ago

SEE HOW THE KILLERS OF THE GOOD OLD PROF AR.E SUFFERING. EVERYTHING SCATTER FOR THEM. GHOSTS DEY OOOO, MY BROTHERS. GOVERNANCE NO DE BE K3K3

SEE HOW THE KILLERS OF THE GOOD OLD PROF AR.E SUFFERING. EVERYTHING SCATTER FOR THEM. GHOSTS DEY OOOO, MY BROTHERS. GOVERNANCE NO DE BE K3K3
sammy 11 years ago

This report is soo not true. IVc produces more than they can export. So even with our fallen cedis the farmers near our borders smuggle it in.
The journalist is acting on hear say. lousy journalist

This report is soo not true. IVc produces more than they can export. So even with our fallen cedis the farmers near our borders smuggle it in.
The journalist is acting on hear say. lousy journalist

Gye Nyame 11 years ago

As long as there is a gap in the price paid to the cocoa farmers in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, any sensible farmer would want to smuggle to Ivory Coast to maximize his/her profits. See below excerpt from this recent article.
...
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As long as there is a gap in the price paid to the cocoa farmers in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, any sensible farmer would want to smuggle to Ivory Coast to maximize his/her profits. See below excerpt from this recent article.
www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/14/cocoa-ivorycoast-auction-idUSL6N0O02O320140514

"As much as 100,000 tonnes of Ghanaian cocoa have been trafficked into Ivory Coast so far this season, according to exporters, traders and analysts, and the situation could worsen if the price gap between the two countries widens further".
insight to the bone 11 years ago

The idiocy of the ndc govt really never ceases to amaze us . we never thought they were intrinsically born stupid . why are they crying now that nobody worth their salt wants to touch them with a 10 foot pole or even go near ...
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The idiocy of the ndc govt really never ceases to amaze us . we never thought they were intrinsically born stupid . why are they crying now that nobody worth their salt wants to touch them with a 10 foot pole or even go near them and assist them with ideas . First all having ideas doesn't mean you have the personnel or cadres to execute them , if you did you would already have the ideas and solutions . Stealing ideas can never help as always there is a hidden substance that is not readily visible . Third why shop around for ideas when we all already know the sustainable healthy projects are already in the system but for the corrupt pepeni , ayigbe and Ga idiots these things are being sabotaged in by the bureaucracy and same ministers of state , give us a break with this colossally stupid form and stop the bullshit . establish the rule of law and justice for all and these things will give relief to the economy and our people
Ali 11 years ago

if the price of cocoa is falling , diversify Rear cattle or guinea fowl and employ your Pepefuo to tend them for you. You have successfully diversified in exporting the virginals of your mothers and daughter and sister. And t ...
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if the price of cocoa is falling , diversify Rear cattle or guinea fowl and employ your Pepefuo to tend them for you. You have successfully diversified in exporting the virginals of your mothers and daughter and sister. And that is bringing in foreign exchange which sill not fall. Insight to the bone send your mother to Europe to sell her virginal and I will be her customer. This will give me the opportunity to greed more of you
Ali 11 years ago

Do you even know who Tetteh Quashie is? The rice and fall has been going on not only now. The market decides. The international market is not like selling snails. The only good thing that you Akan/Asante NPP have done is expo ...
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Do you even know who Tetteh Quashie is? The rice and fall has been going on not only now. The market decides. The international market is not like selling snails. The only good thing that you Akan/Asante NPP have done is export the virginals of your wives er and daughters. With that you get the foreign currency direct that will not fall. Bastards and literate uncivilized bunch. 9 of your schools go zero percent in their exams Why? Because instead of going to school, they are on the streets selling their virginals. Insight to the bone,you know how you were sired. You are a bastard.
THE 11 years ago

Child protection experts estimate that the total number of street children in the Greater Accra Region alone hovers around 90,000.

A document, titled ‘Census on Street Children in the Greater Accra Region’, made avail ...
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Child protection experts estimate that the total number of street children in the Greater Accra Region alone hovers around 90,000.

A document, titled ‘Census on Street Children in the Greater Accra Region’, made available to The Finder revealed that there were 61,492 street children in the Greater Accra Region as at 2011.

In 2012, an additional 24,000 street children were also identified in the Greater Accra Region.

The 2011 document revealed that girls, some younger than 10 years, constitute 36,280 of the total number of street children in the Greater Accra Region.

This figure represents 59% of the total number of 61,492 street children loitering about on the streets of Greater Accra.

The document revealed that the ages of the street children were between 10 and 18 years, with some being younger than 10 years.

The census covered Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the Greater Accra Region.

In the Accra Metropolitan area, 50,997 children were counted; in Madina in the Ga East Municipal area, 1,757 children were counted.

Five thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight (5,768) children were counted in the Ashaiman and Nungua municipalities and the Tema Metropolitan area while 939 children were counted in Amasaman in the Ga West Municipal area.

Two thousand and thirty-one (2,031) children were also counted in the Dangbe West District.

According to the document, the census covered age distribution, gender, categories of street children, sleeping places at night, and the types of jobs done on the streets.

It indicated that 28.5% of the children were from the Northern Region, 19.8% from Greater Accra; 10.2% from Volta; 7.5% from Upper East; 7.3% from Ashanti.

The rest are Central Region, 6%; Upper West, 4.5%; Brong Ahafo, 2.9%; and Western, 2.4%; foreign nationals accounted for about 3%.

According to the document, the search for money was the main reason for children being on the streets, accounting for 87%.

The search for jobs, impact of divorce and death of parents were the other reasons.

The document identified malaria, fever, cold, rashes, headache and infections as some of the major diseases affecting street children.

The document noted that it was imperative for government to extend support to poor families with children on the streets through the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.

It also recommended that government support the department of social welfare to carry out its mandate while giving equal attention to the development of all parts of the country in order to deal with the issue of rural- urban migration.
Ali 11 years ago

Is it no dignified to sell on the streets to ear a living than to sell your virginals and even pimp your own wife and daughter for money. It is eve far more dignified to carry latrine than to pimp your own wife and daughter. ...
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Is it no dignified to sell on the streets to ear a living than to sell your virginals and even pimp your own wife and daughter for money. It is eve far more dignified to carry latrine than to pimp your own wife and daughter. 9 schools scored zero percent. Why, because instead of going to school they are on the streets selling their virginal. You do not see your mother until late at night. Gather the courage and ask her where she has been and doing what. You are all bustards breed by the Ntafuo.
Ali 11 years ago

Only one educated Pepeni is equals to 100 Akan/Asnate professors. You cheat at examinations and have no proof of your education when questioned. Your certificate is lost in a fire or there is no record of your schooling Do yo ...
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Only one educated Pepeni is equals to 100 Akan/Asnate professors. You cheat at examinations and have no proof of your education when questioned. Your certificate is lost in a fire or there is no record of your schooling Do your sums and lets talk of quality.
THE 11 years ago

You are right, that is why the North is the most developed sector in Ghana, enough said.

You are right, that is why the North is the most developed sector in Ghana, enough said.
THE 11 years ago

Ghana: Child Killing in Northern Region (Part 1)
By Francis Kokutse, 21 May 2012

Sang — Something sinister is taking place in communities around Saboba, Chereponi and Sang near Yendi in northern Ghana. Innocent ...
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Ghana: Child Killing in Northern Region (Part 1)
By Francis Kokutse, 21 May 2012

Sang — Something sinister is taking place in communities around Saboba, Chereponi and Sang near Yendi in northern Ghana. Innocent children are being killed because they are either born deformed or their mothers died giving birth to them.

"It's an unfortunate situation," says Catholic sister, Stan Terese Mario Mumuni, fighting her emotions as she cuddles a two-year-old boy, one of 30 rescued children under her care at the Nazareth Home for God's Children in Sang.

"This boy should have been killed but Father Cletus Akosah, the parish priest for Sang, moved quickly to save him," says Sister Terese. "His late mother's relatives accepted the witchdoctor's verdict on the boy: that he was the cause of his mother's death and for this reason he should not be allowed to live."

Sentenced by ignorance

Maternal death can largely be attributed to a lack of health services in these remote areas. Unfortunately, ignorance has made the people attribute these deaths to witchcraft.

The total number of children who have suffered death at the recommendations of witchdoctors is unknown because few report such matters to police. "We know that it is due to the lack of education in the area, and we are trying to use the few who have become Christians to report to us when such issues come up," says Father Akosah.

Father Akosah pointed to another boy in the care home who was going to be killed because of a leg deformity. "The witch-doctor attributed this deformity to witchcraft and it was decided that the poor boy must be killed. Luckily for him, I was informed and I moved in to save his life."

Sister Terese is able to look after these children thanks largely to donations. "I have made sure that they go to school and are fed three times a day. I also employ people to look after the very young ones."

Education initiatives

Villages such as Sang have no nearby health facilities and most women depend on traditional birth attendants. The national government has increased its education campaign on how to prevent maternal death during childbirth. But very little of this information reaches where the tradition of child killing is practiced.

Last month, the Ghana Health Service (GHS), as part of its safe motherhood strategy, began a pilot project of distributing Misoprostol to expectant mothers in some regions of the country. The drug helps with the prevention of postpartum hemorrhaging.

The national maternal death rate is 350 per 100,000 live births with approximately 24 percent of these deaths resulting from hemorrhaging, according to GHS. In addition, 42 percent of women in the country deliver at home; while 95 per cent attend at least one antenatal care at a health facility during pregnancy.

Meanwhile, in the region around Sang, the death of mothers is often not being blamed on hemorrhaging but on the babies themselves.

Tomorrow: Child killing in northern Ghana (part 2).
Ali 11 years ago

You are savages to date when you drink palm wine from human skulls. You steal babies at the hospitals to sell to fund your party, NPP. Uncivilized, uneducated bastards sired by the Npepefuo and the moshie

You are savages to date when you drink palm wine from human skulls. You steal babies at the hospitals to sell to fund your party, NPP. Uncivilized, uneducated bastards sired by the Npepefuo and the moshie

insight to the bone 11 years ago

we love our Akans and deeply despise you stinking toilet carriers and your retarded foolish leaders . the day will come when we will drive all of you away like they have done in Central African republic and Angola

we love our Akans and deeply despise you stinking toilet carriers and your retarded foolish leaders . the day will come when we will drive all of you away like they have done in Central African republic and Angola
Ali 11 years ago

How can you drive us out when you are cowards, cockroaches.

How can you drive us out when you are cowards, cockroaches.
insight to the bone 11 years ago

dream on , isnt it you here trying to fight a loosing battle , you are are smaller than ants when you hear the roar

dream on , isnt it you here trying to fight a loosing battle , you are are smaller than ants when you hear the roar
Ali 11 years ago

Why do you not understand simple English. We the Pepefuo are your president, we are your judge in the supreme court..You, Akan/Adsantte apart from being bastards and professional prostitutes in Europe are the most backward tr ...
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Why do you not understand simple English. We the Pepefuo are your president, we are your judge in the supreme court..You, Akan/Adsantte apart from being bastards and professional prostitutes in Europe are the most backward tribe in Ghana. Don't you get it we have taken over.It si OVER
Ali 11 years ago

We are not dreaming. WWE ARE. We are your president till 2016 and your judge at the supreme court and beyond. Weep and grove on the ground like the stupid child that you are. Nothing will change. My bastard. I fathered you.

We are not dreaming. WWE ARE. We are your president till 2016 and your judge at the supreme court and beyond. Weep and grove on the ground like the stupid child that you are. Nothing will change. My bastard. I fathered you.
THE 11 years ago

Despite free education in Ghana, the three Northern regions, Northern region, Upper East and Upper West are where illiteracy abounds most.

Education in Poor Rural Areas

Despite overall national development, wealth is ...
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Despite free education in Ghana, the three Northern regions, Northern region, Upper East and Upper West are where illiteracy abounds most.

Education in Poor Rural Areas

Despite overall national development, wealth is unevenly distributed in the country and the quality of basic education remains low in the state system, particularly in the rural areas and the poor, urban slums. The three northern regions (Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions) have especially high poverty rates and lag behind in education.

Formidable obstacles to education include:
• a shortage of trained teachers willing to work in poor rural areas,
• teacher absenteeism,
• poverty forcing children to work instead of attending school,
• hidden costs of schooling such as uniforms and books,
• poor supervision of teachers leading to abuse of pupils,
• inadequacy of toilets & sanitary facilities which particularly affect the enrolment & retention of girls, and a
• lack of books and teaching/learning materials hampering pupils’ ability to learn.
Ali 11 years ago

We are least educated yet we preside over you till 2016 and judge you when you are brought to the supreme court. Mark my words, supreme court not circuit court. 9 of your schools scored zero percent, Why, because intead of yo ...
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We are least educated yet we preside over you till 2016 and judge you when you are brought to the supreme court. Mark my words, supreme court not circuit court. 9 of your schools scored zero percent, Why, because intead of your them going to school, they are on the street selling virginals. That is why 99.9 percent of you are bastards
THE 11 years ago

Regional News of Wednesday, 14 May 2014

Source: myjoyonline.com

One shot dead in Gushegu land dispute

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Regional News of Wednesday, 14 May 2014

Source: myjoyonline.com

One shot dead in Gushegu land dispute

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A-35year-old farmer has been shot and killed in a land dispute between two farming communities - Beriba and Yiyamba in the Gushegu District of the Northern Region.

The deceased is said to have been fatally shot after exchange of gunfire between the two farming communities in the area. Over 20 houses have also been burnt as residents have fled the communities into obscurity.

The incident is said to have happened on Sunday night and renewed on Monday. ASP Steven Paa Yeboah, the Geshegu District Police Commander, who briefed the media about the current situation said, a combined team of the military and police have been dispatched to the location to restore calm.

According to him, the people of Beriba accused the people of Yerimba for occupying the land hence fueling the dispute.

He says calm has been restored by security forces.
Ali 11 years ago

The fact is that you have not stopped head hunting an drinking from huma skulls. The next time we stage a coup, we will send you to gas chambers because you are the problem of Ghana. Firing squared is a waste of money dog cha ...
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The fact is that you have not stopped head hunting an drinking from huma skulls. The next time we stage a coup, we will send you to gas chambers because you are the problem of Ghana. Firing squared is a waste of money dog chain sellers with Kuffour wit the biggest chain around his neck. Bastards and sons of prostitutes.
Houdini 11 years ago

Stop behaving like an idiot bent on defending this useless administration you will come out with this nonsense. Ivory Coast and all cocoa producing countries can't even produce enough to satisfy world consumption.

If Ivory ...
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Stop behaving like an idiot bent on defending this useless administration you will come out with this nonsense. Ivory Coast and all cocoa producing countries can't even produce enough to satisfy world consumption.

If Ivory Coast cannot export all their products, how can Ghana export ours when we all sell to the same world market? Do you have any brains in your skull?

Charles Agbenu 11 years ago

Useless NDC

They deceive people to win power

They cant rule. All they can do is prevent NPP to rule. Useless wrecks--NDC they call themselves

Useless NDC

They deceive people to win power

They cant rule. All they can do is prevent NPP to rule. Useless wrecks--NDC they call themselves
Nigel 11 years ago

We all do business to gain the maximum profit possible so WHY NOT ???
I DO NOT BLAME THESE FARMERS one bit because is the fruit of their labour.
These dick heads of NDC politicians who do not do fuckoooo in their officers a ...
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We all do business to gain the maximum profit possible so WHY NOT ???
I DO NOT BLAME THESE FARMERS one bit because is the fruit of their labour.
These dick heads of NDC politicians who do not do fuckoooo in their officers are stealing Ghana's money and making it big so what stop these farmers from selling their produce in Ivory Coast .
I give up on these bunch of clueless NDC gangs becus i can see Ghana finally being sold for nothing , trust .Give me a break guys !!!
Ghanaba 11 years ago

Why is that Russian-trained Dr Opuni terrorizing staff of the Board, insulting even directors old enough to be his uncles, while smuggling goes on unabated?

Why is that Russian-trained Dr Opuni terrorizing staff of the Board, insulting even directors old enough to be his uncles, while smuggling goes on unabated?
slasher 11 years ago

I THOUGHT THIS SMUGGLING BUSINESS HAD STOPPED SINCE THE FOOTAGE BY ANAS REVEALING THE CULPRITS ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. LOL INDEED OUR NATION IS A FUNNY ONE. WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DOING? WELL BECAUSE THEY ...
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I THOUGHT THIS SMUGGLING BUSINESS HAD STOPPED SINCE THE FOOTAGE BY ANAS REVEALING THE CULPRITS ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. LOL INDEED OUR NATION IS A FUNNY ONE. WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DOING? WELL BECAUSE THEY ARE SHAREHOLDERS IN THE SMUGGLING BUSINESS. THEY SHOULD KEEP IT UP AND SMUGGLE UNTIL THEY CAN SMUGGLE NO MORE.. GOSHHHHH
CONCERN-GHANA 11 years ago

By Rick Newman
17 hours ago
Daily Ticker
Canadian flags
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Source: Thinkstock

Its middle class is thriving, its people are universally liked and its government actually works.

Fifty years ago, this desc ...
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By Rick Newman
17 hours ago
Daily Ticker
Canadian flags
.
View photo
Source: Thinkstock

Its middle class is thriving, its people are universally liked and its government actually works.

Fifty years ago, this description might have fit the United States. But not now. America’s middle class is shrinking and its global reputation is spotty. Congress, meanwhile, creates more problems than it solves.

So for guidance on how to fix America, why not look north to Canada, where the mood is upbeat and life appears to be getting demonstrably better? The New York Times recently reported the Canadian middle class is now the world’s richest, surpassing the U.S. for the first time. In the 2014 “better life index” recently published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Canada outscored the United States in 9 of 11 categories, including education, safety and overall life satisfaction.

The poverty rate is lower in Canada, and every Canadian citizen has government-provided health insurance, which might explain why Canadians enjoy longer life expectancy than Americans and are considerably less obese. As for the government, Canada’s national debt amounts to about $18,000 per person, compared with $55,000 in America.

So what is Canada doing right?

It has a more stable banking system. Canada has virtually never experienced a financial crisis, and there were no bailouts north of the border in 2008 when the U.S. government committed $245 billion to save dozens of U.S. banks. The differences between the two countries are somewhat accidental. In the United States, distrust of a strong central government all the way back in the founders’ days led to a system of state-chartered banks vulnerable to political meddling, and therefore riskier than the big, nationally chartered financial institutions that operate in Canada.

“In the United States, instability was permitted by regulators because it served powerful political interests,” Prof. Charles Calomiris of Columbia University wrote in a 2013 paper for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. “In Canada, the banking system was not used as a means of channeling subsidized credit to a favored political constituency, so there was no need to tolerate instability.” The legacy of that today is a malleable U.S. banking system that, among other things, was deregulated in the late 1990s at the behest of banks themselves — which contributed to the 2008 collapse.

The financial crisis and the abuses that led to it are still holding back the U.S. economy. Shoddy lending standards were a major cause of the housing bust, which has whacked $3 trillion off the value of Americans’ real-estate assets — even with the year-long recovery in the housing market. That’s a huge loss of wealth that continues to hold back U.S. spending. And it’s just part of a 25-year debt binge Americans are still working off. With far fewer lending excesses, Canada didn’t really have a housing bust or a credit crisis to recover from.

Money doesn’t dominate politics. Canada has much stricter rules governing campaign contributions than those in America, where campaign-finance laws are getting weaker on account of recent Supreme Court rulings striking down limits on spending. Tougher limits in Canada give people and businesses with money to spend less influence over laws and regulations. “Every single one of my voters thinks that is terrific,” says former journalist Chrystia Freeland, now a Canadian member of parliament, representing a district in Toronto. “There is a lot less influence of the really wealthy and single-issue interest groups. A regular person has a much bigger voice.”

Many members of the U.S. Congress report spending half their time, or more, raising money for reelection efforts rather than legislating. Freeland estimates she spends less than 5% of her time doing that. There’s virtually no chance the United States will ever adopt a Canadian-style parliamentary system, but Congress could pass new laws or amend the Constitution in order to limit the corrupting influence of Big Money in politics. Were that to happen, however, it would probably make incumbent politicians more vulnerable to challengers. Maybe next century.

There’s less hostility toward immigrants. Canada, like the United States, has limits on the number of foreigners it allows into the country to work. But the whole issue of immigration is far less politicized, and there’s a broad understanding that skilled foreign workers help the economy. Canada actually recruits immigrants, part of a deliberate effort to attract talented foreigners most likely to contribute to economic growth. In the United States, the quota for skilled immigrants is far below the number U.S. firms would hire if they could get them. Despite appeals from many businesses, Congress is paralyzed on reforms that would let more skilled immigrants in, partly because that issue gets conflated with separate reforms aimed at stemming the flow of unskilled illegals.

Canada has its own problems, needless to say. Its government-run healthcare system draws complaints of long wait times for care and trailing-edge medical technology. Some economists think a housing bubble may be forming, for instance, and trends such as rising income inequality affect Canada just as they do every other industrialized country. Plus, it's cold.

In the Land of Moderation, however, such challenges seem manageable. “We’re less anxious because we didn’t have the financial crisis,” says Freeland, “but Canadians should guard against smugness.” Now there's something you're unlikely to hear an American politician say.

-- Siemond Chan contributed to this article.

Rick Newman’s latest book is Rebounders: How Winners Pivot From Setback To Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman.
Di Asempa 11 years ago

As a farmer, I can assure you that it is the the cedi that is causing the smuggling. It is caused by the infrastructure in cocoa producing areas. No truck can venture to go to Tabakrom due to the road and therefore hungry fam ...
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As a farmer, I can assure you that it is the the cedi that is causing the smuggling. It is caused by the infrastructure in cocoa producing areas. No truck can venture to go to Tabakrom due to the road and therefore hungry famers cannot sell to buying companies right away for money so wherever they can get money for their goods they will go to sell.
DUNCAN WILLIAMS 11 years ago

The Cedi is still collapsing !!! Where is Archbishop Duncan Williams ???

The Cedi is still collapsing !!! Where is Archbishop Duncan Williams ???
PROFESSOR THOMAS KUBI- McA 11 years ago

COCOA MARKETING IN AFRIKA NEEDS
TURN OVER IN THE FARMS
======================================= AVOID CORRUPTION
FARMERS & THE STAKE HOLDERS NEED
COLLABORATION ==COOPERATION== CORROBORATION===
PROFESSO ...
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COCOA MARKETING IN AFRIKA NEEDS
TURN OVER IN THE FARMS
======================================= AVOID CORRUPTION
FARMERS & THE STAKE HOLDERS NEED
COLLABORATION ==COOPERATION== CORROBORATION===
PROFESSOR =THOMAS KUBI==FOUNDER
MARKETING AFRIKA FOUNDATION
WWW.VOICEOFAFRIKA.ORG.UK
PROFESSOR THOMAS KUBI- McA 11 years ago

DYNAMIC MARKETING OF AFRIKAN COMMODITIES===
SOPHISCATED APPROACH TO MARKETING
CREATION OF AFRIKA MARKETING
CENTRE
MORE EXTENSIVE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE OPPOTUNITIES
INCREASE MARKET SHAR ...
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DYNAMIC MARKETING OF AFRIKAN COMMODITIES===
SOPHISCATED APPROACH TO MARKETING
CREATION OF AFRIKA MARKETING
CENTRE
MORE EXTENSIVE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE OPPOTUNITIES
INCREASE MARKET SHARE OF THE CONTINET s EXPORT & DOMESTIC TRADE
STRATEGIC APPROACH TO DIRECT INVESTMENT I HEALTH EDUCATION HOUSING & HOUSING
THEME ===INVESTING IN GREAT AFRIKA s FUTURE
KOFI AFFRIFA 11 years ago

Kufuor made Cedi the strongest currency in Africa, when he was the president. When will NDC and PNDC accept the fact that they don't have what it takes to govern. Big shame.

Kufuor made Cedi the strongest currency in Africa, when he was the president. When will NDC and PNDC accept the fact that they don't have what it takes to govern. Big shame.
Mankind 11 years ago

Why not!! If Mahama and his brother Ibrahim are stealing our resources to Dubai, why not the cocoa farmers to Ivory Coast?? They don't even need visa or steal Ghana's money to buy expensive private Jets!!The cocoa farmer unde ...
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Why not!! If Mahama and his brother Ibrahim are stealing our resources to Dubai, why not the cocoa farmers to Ivory Coast?? They don't even need visa or steal Ghana's money to buy expensive private Jets!!The cocoa farmer understands economics more than the government?
Kwasi atta 11 years ago

You soo stupid, because our president he is not an Ashanti so u dont like him. He is the president of Ghana and we love ...
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You soo stupid, because our president he is not an Ashanti so u dont like him. He is the president of Ghana and we love him so u can go to hell with ur bad Ashantis mind.
Gh.ba 11 years ago

You have to face facts

You have to face facts
Gh.ba 11 years ago

This are results of unqualified person's forcing themselves into a position that they are not fit to be there all because of power

This are results of unqualified person's forcing themselves into a position that they are not fit to be there all because of power
Whatever 11 years ago

If cocoa is being smuggled it means revenue will go to the cocoa farmers direct instead of through-government so I don't see the issue. monies will still flow into the economy in the same way even probably faster. It will aff ...
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If cocoa is being smuggled it means revenue will go to the cocoa farmers direct instead of through-government so I don't see the issue. monies will still flow into the economy in the same way even probably faster. It will affect Government revenue but what matters is the monies goes to the farmers
mr amin 11 years ago

I have been saying that yhe depteciation of the cedo is the course of our problem. n the genesis of it is from the ports why charge in dollers???? we are killing the country if cedi is not well then ghana is not well too. sav ...
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I have been saying that yhe depteciation of the cedo is the course of our problem. n the genesis of it is from the ports why charge in dollers???? we are killing the country if cedi is not well then ghana is not well too. save the cedi or else it will fall with us.
Alhaji Brutus Germany 11 years ago

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THE FARMERS TO DO WHEN JDM IS SHARING V8LANDCRUISERS WHILE THEY ARE IN DIRE NEED OF MONEY TO PAY THE EXORBITANT SCHOOL FEES OF THEIR CHILDREN;

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THE FARMERS TO DO WHEN JDM IS SHARING V8LANDCRUISERS WHILE THEY ARE IN DIRE NEED OF MONEY TO PAY THE EXORBITANT SCHOOL FEES OF THEIR CHILDREN;
IARARAT USA 11 years ago

WE ARE NOT KIDS, COCOA HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FALLING OF THE CEDI - WHAT ABOUT COUNTRIES WHO DONT HAVE EVEN SINGLE NATURAL RESOURCES TO EXPORT ? ie LEBANON, EVEN THEY DONT RIVER FOR HYDRO- ELECTRICITY THEY USE SOLAR ...
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WE ARE NOT KIDS, COCOA HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FALLING OF THE CEDI - WHAT ABOUT COUNTRIES WHO DONT HAVE EVEN SINGLE NATURAL RESOURCES TO EXPORT ? ie LEBANON, EVEN THEY DONT RIVER FOR HYDRO- ELECTRICITY THEY USE SOLAR AND PLANT/ BUT THERE IS NO "DUMSO - DUMSO" THEY ALWAYS ENJOY 24 hrs POWER SUPPLY.THEIR CURRENCY IS 10 Leb-1USD
THE PROBLEM IS , WE DONT PUT VALUE INTO OUR RAW MATERIALS -WE EXPORT GOLD ,TIMBER,COCOA ,ETC ALL IN A RAW FORM,ALSO MIS- MANAGEMENT OF THE ECONOMY BY THE CORRUPT GOVERNMENT SUCH AS NDC HAD DEVALUED THE CEDI .

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Cedi fall deepens Ghana’s cocoa smuggling troubles

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