The root cause of Ghana’s economic woes

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• ... 11 years ago

  MOSTLY STUPID, GREEDY RULERS: THAT HAS BEEN THE MAIN CAUSE OF GHANA'S SHAMEFUL SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AFTER NEARLY 60 YEARS OF 'INDEPENDENCE'.

  MOSTLY STUPID, GREEDY RULERS: THAT HAS BEEN THE MAIN CAUSE OF GHANA'S SHAMEFUL SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AFTER NEARLY 60 YEARS OF 'INDEPENDENCE'.

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• Whatever 11 years ago

  So long right wing capitalism remain in Ghana and it's continually determining prices, we should forget it. Nothing will change. No matter who is in charge, if that person fails to push the state to do business, 100 years wil ...
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  So long right wing capitalism remain in Ghana and it's continually determining prices, we should forget it. Nothing will change. No matter who is in charge, if that person fails to push the state to do business, 100 years will come and we would be where we are

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• Kojo T 11 years ago

  Our so called capitalists have failed us " trickle down " economics does not work in Africa . But the proponents will continue to regurgitate this notch . Sure enrgy is needed but who brings it in? state or the private sector ...
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  Our so called capitalists have failed us " trickle down " economics does not work in Africa . But the proponents will continue to regurgitate this notch . Sure enrgy is needed but who brings it in? state or the private sector?

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• Nyansba 11 years ago

  The writer’s analysis and arguments are very shallow, woefully shallow and very evasive, and almost any intelligent and discerning Ghanaian would feel insulted, as I feel, by this article which attempts to take the blame fo ...
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  The writer’s analysis and arguments are very shallow, woefully shallow and very evasive, and almost any intelligent and discerning Ghanaian would feel insulted, as I feel, by this article which attempts to take the blame for the current crisis from the shamelessly corrupt Mahama government and spread it on all regimes past and present. Whilst it is true that Ghana has had economic difficulties across all regimes, John Mahama and his evil NDC are the SOLE ROOT CAUSE of our CURRENT WOES. Period! Is this the state of affairs they came to meet? Why couldn't they keep us where they met us if they lacked the ability to move us forward, instead of driving us so much backward, in spite of being the single most resourced government in all our history – oil money, huge loans, unprecedentedly high and pervasive taxes? Where does all the money go? What have they to show for it?
  The writer failed, perhaps deliberately, to touch on the glaring incompetence, cluelessness and ineptitude of John Mahama and virtually ALL his ministers and appointees which have collectively plunged the people of this nation into hardships never before experienced in our post-colonial history. Which other government of the past had committed the sort of heartless economic crimes against the people of Ghana as John Mahama’s administration is currently doing? Which other government had created conditions for its appointees and cronies to create, loot and share our meager resources with ease through government-initiated scams like Woyome, SADA, GYEEDA, SUBAH, WATERVILLE, CP, ISOFOTON, and scores of others that keep coming to light from time to time? Which other regime had displayed such apathy and clear unpreparedness and shocking disinterest in fighting corruption or prosecuting the so many alarming cases of fraud against the people’s treasury that have come to light under its watch?
  It is almost a shame to compare Mahama’s government to any other in our history. Nkrumah’s CPP built massive infrastructure that was large destroyed or dissipated by the PNDC/NDC under Rawlings who added very little. Acheampong brought self-reliance initiatives that yielded modest results, but Rawlings killed him! Kufuor’s NPP, though tagged a ‘property-grabbing’ government by the NDC, brought a lot of social intervention programmes that positively affected the lives of the poor. You can mention the Metro-Mass, NHIS, free maternal care for ALL Ghanaian women, capitation grant, school feeding, etc. Is it not a great tragedy that ALL these social interventions by the ‘property-grabbing’ NPP administration have been collapsed by the apostles of ‘social democracy’ and now we are back to the killer ‘CASH AND CARRY’ days of the Rawlings era? Is it not a shame that under the so-called ‘social democrats’, virtually all government subventions have been cut; that teacher trainees and trainee nurses have had their age-long allowances withdrawn; that virtually every institution or programme that survives on government subvention have not been resourced for months or years? Like the GET-Fund, the NHIS, the Judicial Service, the Special Schools, the Scholarships Secretariat, the District Assemblies common Fund, and even parliament? At a time all Ghanaian teachers were asking for only GhC10 million that rightfully belonged to them; at a time that doctors were calling for their fair due, the Mills/Mahama government was dishing away billions of Ghana cedis to Woyome, CP, Waterville, and engaging in daylight scams like SUBAH, SADA, GYEEDA, and paying upfront for jobs that had not yet been done and were never done! Which other governments of the past had displayed even 5% of incompetence and corruption that clueless Mahama and his arrogant, loud-mouthed ministers and appointees have shown?
  The solution is simple: UNTIL MAHAMA STOPS ALL THE SCAMS HE AND HIS APPOINTEES HAVE BEEN EXECUTING AGAINST THE NATIONAL PURSE, AND RETRIEVES ALL THE BILLIONS OF GHANA CEDIS THAT HAVE BEEN SIPHONED UNDER HIS WATCH THROUGH SADA, GYEEDA, SUBAH, WOYOME, CP, WATERVILLE, ISOPHOTON, RLG, THE JOSPONG GROUP, ETC., ETC., our woes would continue to deepen until only god knows what would happen to our nation.
  MAHAMA AND HIS GOVERNMENT ARE BOGUS, AND DO NOT DESERVE, NAY DO NOT QUALIFY, TO BE RUNNING GHANA – NOT NOW, NOT EVER! BUT THEY ARE THERE, AND THAT IS THE SOLE ROOT CAUSE OF CURRENT WOES. IT IS ALMOST LIKE A CURSE. PERIOD!

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• GUY MOMONE 11 years ago

  The author to me, is writing about what has to be done to attract Foreign investment and even to encourage local entrepreneurs to invest in manufacturing. His solution is constant energy (electricity) supply which he believes ...
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  The author to me, is writing about what has to be done to attract Foreign investment and even to encourage local entrepreneurs to invest in manufacturing. His solution is constant energy (electricity) supply which he believes can be achieved through NUCLEAR ENERGY. As he said, the blame game is not going to help anybody. Let the people decide at the ballot box come 2016.

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• abena kwabena 11 years ago

  I agree with you but part of the blame falls on the people for not being able to demand accountability from the government. We must ask ourselves why no government official ever resignes from their post even if they are unabl ...
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  I agree with you but part of the blame falls on the people for not being able to demand accountability from the government. We must ask ourselves why no government official ever resignes from their post even if they are unable to do their jobs and the country is falling apart as a result? The reason they don't is that in Ghana no one is going to hold you accountable.,

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• Boss 11 years ago

  Sir: you may have a point. Can you define right wing capitalism? Also can you share with us what else determines prices besides demand and supply?

  Sir: you may have a point. Can you define right wing capitalism? Also can you share with us what else determines prices besides demand and supply?

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• BE BOLD 11 years ago

  Thanks for the attempt to diagnose Ghana's problems but it would have been helpful to discuss poor leadership, including abuse and mismanagement of resources, bad and stupid decision making, corruption, greed etc. You fairly ...
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  Thanks for the attempt to diagnose Ghana's problems but it would have been helpful to discuss poor leadership, including abuse and mismanagement of resources, bad and stupid decision making, corruption, greed etc. You fairly described the scientific approach and left out the human factor which is probably more difficult to correct. Effective leadership can bring the people together to move towards a single goal. How do you achieve this when the leadership and the people do not undertand this.

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• Baba 11 years ago

  Easier said than done. We have borrowed almost 48 Billion US dollars just in 6 years but cannot boast of any meaningful edifice. Ghana's problem is its leaders, institutions and people (citizens). They are not truthful to the ...
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  Easier said than done. We have borrowed almost 48 Billion US dollars just in 6 years but cannot boast of any meaningful edifice. Ghana's problem is its leaders, institutions and people (citizens). They are not truthful to themselves,they cherish mediocrity and sycophancy and so cannot account for anything. Until we change this attitude. Ghana will certainly......

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• Pelicles 11 years ago

  The root cause of our economic woes are nothing more than "bad leadership" and "dishonest citizens". Let me tell you this, there is no nation on this vast planet that is developed yet trampled on the rule of law. What about ...
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  The root cause of our economic woes are nothing more than "bad leadership" and "dishonest citizens". Let me tell you this, there is no nation on this vast planet that is developed yet trampled on the rule of law. What about ours?

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• Pelicles 11 years ago

  Please try and read this article on Ghanaweb under the title "Special Operation Unite retrieve 746 million cedis ...... Now, the point I am trying to make is, if people can hide this money from the government what is the me ...
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  Please try and read this article on Ghanaweb under the title "Special Operation Unite retrieve 746 million cedis ...... Now, the point I am trying to make is, if people can hide this money from the government what is the message?

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• Jeffrey 11 years ago

  Ghana's preparedness is one question to consider."environmental,capacity, expertise". If this country can only reduce or flush out wastage from generation to distribution of energy nuclear power generation will not be needed.

  Ghana's preparedness is one question to consider."environmental,capacity, expertise". If this country can only reduce or flush out wastage from generation to distribution of energy nuclear power generation will not be needed.

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• BlackC 11 years ago

  This article was okay until you brought up nuclear power.
  
  Nations around the world are getting rid of nuclear power. Germany is developed and slowly getting rid of this nuisance.

  This article was okay until you brought up nuclear power.
  
  Nations around the world are getting rid of nuclear power. Germany is developed and slowly getting rid of this nuisance.

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• Antoa Nyamah 11 years ago

  Better talk about Solar Energy rather than Nuclear energy as the cost or Nuclear waste management is higher.

  Better talk about Solar Energy rather than Nuclear energy as the cost or Nuclear waste management is higher.

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• Captain Canada 11 years ago

  to dishonest citizenry. You cannot build a viable state with thieves as its citizens. They steal everything including time and ordinary decency. Then they wrap themselves in prosperity gospels to legitimize their theft. I wil ...
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  to dishonest citizenry. You cannot build a viable state with thieves as its citizens. They steal everything including time and ordinary decency. Then they wrap themselves in prosperity gospels to legitimize their theft. I will hazard a guess and say there are about 1% honest Ghanaians in Ghana.

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• liv 11 years ago

  I think 1% is too much.

  I think 1% is too much.

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• Felicity Antwiwaa 11 years ago

  It is unthinkable that Ghana has reduced itself to this level. To the list of vices you mentioned,please added lack of patroitism, absolute greed,selfishness, low foresight and poorleadership.
  It is surprising that people b ...
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  It is unthinkable that Ghana has reduced itself to this level. To the list of vices you mentioned,please added lack of patroitism, absolute greed,selfishness, low foresight and poorleadership.
  It is surprising that people become rather good-looking weeks after entering into leadership positions. They seek wealth and affluence.
  With that new status, individualism, arrogance, pride, lawlessness and several other undignifying practices set in. Our society now glorifies those values that a few years ago people would frown on.There is a different mind set now and people do not go into leadershippositions to sacrifice for the state but to enrich themselves at the expense of those who cannot get there. Do you wonder why?
  I dont know who can solve even half of the problems we have now.
  In the ranking of things in today's Ghana, the state comes last.
  Cry the beloved country.

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• Black Banana 11 years ago

  The military coups and the Rawlings Disciples they have been in power for 1/2 the countries existence

  The military coups and the Rawlings Disciples they have been in power for 1/2 the countries existence

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• Stephen Kumaga 11 years ago

  Thank you Jude.You've made the point clear andsimple.we need visionary leadership in all areas .Socio-economic and political.No president has a magic to turn the economic around easily as Ghanaians think without the pivot or ...
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  Thank you Jude.You've made the point clear andsimple.we need visionary leadership in all areas .Socio-economic and political.No president has a magic to turn the economic around easily as Ghanaians think without the pivot or the engine.Adequate energy is the only way to go.I'm delighted for the president's plans to go nuclear.We must all support him.The time of protecting the currency with doner money is over.My biggest question is how do we fit in the global free market with all this big manipulative participants at the same time protecting our domestic market and products?Jude I will be in contact.God bless Ghana.

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• Mashud Saeed 11 years ago

  Spot brother, keep the good job.

  Spot brother, keep the good job.

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• GUY MOMONE 11 years ago

  Thank you. I hope the government will pay attention to this and invest the little money that is left in this nuclear energy instead of buying tampers for school girls or buying arms to arm the Ghanaian soldiers at peace keepi ...
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  Thank you. I hope the government will pay attention to this and invest the little money that is left in this nuclear energy instead of buying tampers for school girls or buying arms to arm the Ghanaian soldiers at peace keeping which to me should be the responsibility of ECOWAS or UN.

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• Onipa Baa 11 years ago

  Well done Jude!
  Addressing the balance of payment situation goes beyond the issue of reliable energy supply. To a large extent addressing the energy situation will broaden Ghana’s appeal to investors.
  I will add that asi ...
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  Well done Jude!
  Addressing the balance of payment situation goes beyond the issue of reliable energy supply. To a large extent addressing the energy situation will broaden Ghana’s appeal to investors.
  I will add that aside the energy situation, we will have to look at the broader picture of corruption in the country. This has discouraged many potential investors from coming to invest and produce/manufacture the very items/consumables we import from China and elsewhere. Corruption is like cancer which has eaten deep into the fabric of society in Ghana. It is legally practiced, condoned and abetted by people in government (Ministers). A government official told me in 2010 that “corruption is part of the economy of Ghana. Taking away corruption can lead to economy collapse. Without corruption we cannot survive in Ghana”. Though this statement was made obiter and to create a sense of humor it nevertheless brings to the fore the mentality of people in our motherland.
  I led a delegation of investors to Ghana to invest in the housing sector just to be frustrated by people in government. The discussion was always on what one will get in return for signing or advancing a document to the next stage. My experience at the Registrar Generals Department deepened my sense of disillusionment. For ones my spirit wept for mother Ghana. Trying to register a company in Ghana is a daunting process. Can this be normal? I asked myself. A process which should take no more than a couple of days took more than 2 weeks. At every stage of the process one had to pay so much. One will think such issues are peripheral, but it underscores the fact that corruption cuts across every sphere of society. It sounds quite bizarre! I do not think well-meaning investors will want to suffer such an experience.
  To this end I will argue that we will still be wallowing in this balance of payment doldrums if what I call our "national patriotic psychology" is not changed. It is time the country is led my people who think about the general good of the people and not those who think about how to amass wealth.
  Mother Ghana is crying! The time for change is now. We have to take extraordinary and bold steps to tackle corruption; otherwise we will take a step forward and two backwards.

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