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Any justification for National Development Bank in Ghana?
“The Development Bank is going to play a very important part in the rapid economic transformation of Ghana, following the onset of COVID-19”.
These words came from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during at the signing ceremony on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, when he held a meeting with the President of European Development Bank (EDB), Dr Werner Hoyer, as part of his official visit to Belgium.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the design and operation of the Development Bank Ghana (DBG) in Ghana had been on the drawing board over the past two years and when established, would satisfy the highest standards, scrutiny and best practices of development banks across the world.
He further assured that the €170 million facility being provided by European Investment Bank (EIB) for the establishment of the Development Bank Ghana (DBG), “signals the determination of the country to continue partnering with the EU to continue to finance other projects in the pipeline as the country works to recover from the impact of COVID-19 as well as assist in the rapid recovery of the Ghanaian economy from the ravages of the pandemic.”
Any need for a National Development Bank?
One question that comes up immediately is whether there is the need for a bank for developmental purposes when, indeed, other banks are already operating in the country. It has even been argued that to prevent the collapse of certain banks and strengthen the banking sector, the government in collaboration with the Bank of Ghana, recently sanitised the sector to ensure that it is strengthened up for business in the country.
And if this is the case, why should another bank be established if it is aimed at promoting the same economic development that we are all seeking?
Development Banks and economic growth
Generally, development banks serve as important instruments to promote economic growth. They usually do this by providing credit and a wide range of advisory as well as capacity building programmes for stakeholders. The stakeholders here include households, small and medium enterprises and even large private companies. Usually, the financial needs of the huge private companies are not sufficiently served by private commercial banks nor by local capital markets.
A National Development Bank, therefore, comes in as a specialist bank to provide medium and long-term lending facilities for both the private and public sectors. The objective of a development bank is to serve public interest rather than earning profits. This means that a development bank provides financial assistance for both private and public sector institutions.
Crucial role in rural capital formation
It is also the aim of a national development bank to play a crucial role in rural capital formation. Indeed, development banks are able in this case to bring in dispersed savings of rural people through different deposit schemes after which loans, based on the savings, are distributed to rural people to begin productive ventures in line with their self-sufficient economic activities.
It is for the purpose of all these that the Ministry of Finance and the European Investment Bank have signed an agreement for the provision of a €170 million facility. The purpose of the facility, as pointed out already, is meant for the establishment of a new national bank to be known as the Development Bank Ghana (DBG).
This bank will apply stringent investment conditions aimed at safeguarding financial sustainability, transparency, environmental and social accountability. The ultimate purpose is to promote job creation, and sustainable economic growth.
Are our banks too many?
With regard to the argument that many banks already exist so there is no need for any new national bank, the point must be made that a national development bank is a specialised financial institution set up to provide medium-term and long-term lending facilities. Here, medium-term facilities include three to five years programmes while long-term ones last from five to 10 years or even more.
It is these medium and long-term facilities that make finances available for institutions to carry out developmental programmes for the ultimate benefits of a country. For this reason, there is any justification for such a national bank if Ghana is to operate independently and be able to re-structure its economy in line with Ghana Beyond Aid strategy.
There is no doubt that the establishment of this national bank signifies long-term ambitious financing programme that seeks to gather finances for numerous sectors in the economy. The sectors include manufacturing, agriculture, agro-processing, housing sub-sectors, mortgages and Information, Communication, Technology (ICT), among others. Positive developments in these sectors are meant to generate ambitious initiatives to unlock funds in these sectors and improve domestic revenue mobilisation.
Economic growth and transformation
It is such initiatives that will propel growth and transformation in various sectors of the economy. Without such transformation, the country will remain producer of raw materials for other countries and receiver of tiny incomes from the developed countries, thereby perpetuating the status quo since independence in line with the negative ambitious objectives of the colonial master.
It is not easy to break away from this cycle of poverty, but it calls for determination and realistic programmes of development based on a transformational agenda to extricate a developing country like Ghana from the shackles of control emanating from our master-servant colonial experience. Unpleasant as it is, this fight for economic independence should have come earlier than today but none of our past leaders was able to put up this economic fight since, even if they had come to this realisation earlier on, it would not be easy to overcome these economic challenges.
Overcoming structural economic problems
Over the years, many Ghanaian scholars and politicians have been able to rightly point out the economic disparities between Ghana and other colonised countries, on one hand, and their previous colonial masters, on the other. It is a fight that is on-going and is, therefore, never too late for the right things to be done and to correct all wrong doings in the past.
If President Akufo-Addo’s administration has come to this realisation and taken up steps aim at righting all the economic wrongs, then this positive agenda ought to be supported by all the political parties, especially those who claim to be social democrats and are also seeking independence of all colonial appendages.
Right-wing party and economic development
A right-wing party like the New Patriotic Party (NPP), led by President Akufo-Addo has put in the right measures to salvage the country from its long-standing colonial appendages and make it truly independent. If this is the case, then there is no time to waste on the part of any political party but to move in quickly to support this positive agenda of transforming the national economy and making it truly independent.
At the time of independence, Kwame Nkrumah rightly declared that our independence would not have any meaning unless it was linked up with the whole of the African continent. While this is true to some extent, we should know that political independence is what was achieved and that the second phase of the battle is to struggle for our economic independence in line with Ghana Beyond Aid strategy.
If Ghana’s independence is to become realistically meaningful, then its economic independence cannot be compromised on any grounds for which reason the national development bank, with its positive agenda, must be implemented in a realistic manner for the attainment of our national aspirations which has been dwelling in us in form of “God bless our homeland Ghana, and make us great and strong”.
By Dr Kofi Amponsha-Bediako
THE state of feeling rejected, could be a terrifying experience especially for those who have become used to fame. If not properly addressed, it could lead to depression and the consequences, could be disastrous.
When you are on top of your game in whatever profession you find yourself such that you become famous, a lot of people try to associate with you. The phone never ceases to ring and one is tempted to feel loved and very important.
When a disaster strikes and the fame or the money which was the source of the attraction fades away, the circle of friends and fans begin to shrink and the phone will start to stop ringing until the call stops voting completely.
You will be shocked at how people you considered friends, will no longer be calling you or pay casual visits as they used to. You will begin to notice that messages you leave after calling them and not getting a response are not replied to and that is when you begin to know who your true friends are.
One of the most popular movie stars was an actress called Sharon Stone. In an interview with one of the media houses that was published, she spoke about how people who should have come around to encourage her in her moment of depression, shunned her. The calls stopped coming.
This is what the Bible admonishes that the arm of flesh will fail you and therefore we should put our trust in God. It could be a very frightening experience and can easily lead to depression.
Human nature being what it is, people will want to get close if things are okay. Everybody wants to associate themselves with interesting things, famous people, rich people etc for mainly selfish reasons.
We need to develop the habit of putting our trust in God and relying less on human beings. The lesson we have to take along in life is that, no one marries his or her enemy so how come people who took vows that they will love each other become so hostile to each other that they want to go their separate ways in life? Such is the reality of life.
It is therefore prudent for people to recognise that, life is full of uncertainties and so there is the need to prepare your mind for uncertainties so that when they occur, they do not disorganise your mental sanity.
A lot of people have experienced situations where people who they could have sworn will never betray their trust have disappointed them when they were through challenging moments.
If there is one thing famous people should desire, it should be the ability to identify who are true friends are. Countless stories abound regarding incidence of celebrities who have lost their shine and their wives divorcing them soon after.
It is sometimes useful as a famous or rich person to sign a prenuptial agreement before marriage to safeguard or protect yourself from any future unpleasant surprises.
People can be very pretentious these days, it goes both ways. There is this real life story where a man married a divorced wealthy woman and convinced her to sell her house so they could build a new one together, with the excuse that people are gossiping that he is being housed by a woman.
The woman agreed and they put up a new building. After a few years the man asked for a divorce, only for the woman to realise that the land on which the building was situated, was bought in the man’s name.
This can drive a person insane, if you are not mentally tough and this happens to you. When people hear that you are homeless, a lot of your so-called friends will stop calling, so that you do not become a burden on them.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
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‘But, er …. I don’t even know your name’.
‘Paul. Paul Allotey. I’m Sarah, by the way. Paul, why don’t you leave me here, since this is the last important thing I’m doing today’.
‘Okay. Now Sarah. I was just thinking. You will be here at the cafe for about an hour. By then it will be about twelve thirty. Then, you would be thinking of buying yourself some lunch, to eat here or to take home. So if you would please allow me, I will take you to one of the nicest eating places in town, and after you have sorted that one out, then I can drop you home. Just that one errand, then I won’t bother you again’.
‘You are not bothering me at all. You are being very kind to me. And I just realised you are a mind reader too. The last item on my agenda was lunch’.
‘I’m so glad I appeared at your doorstep, just in time’.
‘Okay. Now Paul, since you say the cafe is a comfortable place, let’s go in together, and you can do your work while I get my application done’.
‘Okay, Sarah. Thanks. Let’s go’.
We got back in the car at eleven forty-five.
‘So where are we going, Paul?’
‘To Royalty restaurant. It’s a twenty minute drive away’.
‘So, do you enjoy your job?’
‘Most certainly. I won’t change it, not even to be President. And am I right to say that you are preparing to enter the university?’
‘That’s my plan. I hope it works’.
‘It will, if you are determined, and disciplined. You look very much like a disciplined person’.
‘Thank you very much’.
We arrived at Royalty in twenty-five minutes, ‘You are joining me for lunch, Paul’.
‘Thanks for the honour, Sarah. But the bill is on me’.
‘Aren’t you taking on too much for one day?’
‘I never do anything that is bigger than me, Sarah’.
Over the next hour and a half, we discussed fashion, local and international politics, and sports, as we ate and relaxed. Finally, he drove me to the shop.
‘I will never forget you, Paul’.
‘I’m glad to have been helpful. But if you don’t mind, I’ll say it again, your husband is extremely lucky. You are really beautiful’.
‘Thanks again. But do you mind if I call you sometime in the future?’
‘Certainly not. Let me write it here. I will not ask for your number, for obvious reasons. But I will be looking forward to hearing from you. And hopefully, I will see you next month, when I call to drop your bill’.
‘Okay Paul. See you then’. What a lovely day, I said to myself as I opened the front door. I closed the shop and got home by seven. I went straight to the bedroom, stood in the mirror and took a good look at myself. ‘You are a very beautiful woman, Sarah. Never forget that’. I will not forget that, again.
Over the next several weeks, Martin and I had very little to do with each other. In the morning he ate his breakfast and after a shabby ‘I’m going’, he left. He came home around eight at the earliest, ate his dinner and, already soaked in beer, went off to sleep.
He spent the greater part of the weekends at the club house with his friends, playing tennis and partying. My mind was focused on furthering my education, so I didn’t complain to him, and didn’t bother to inform my parents about what was happening. I had decided that I would only take action if he lifted his hand against me again. I spent my free time reading all manner of interesting stuff on the internet, and chatting with my sister on WhatsApp.
One evening, he came home at about eight, rushed to the bedroom and rushed out. An envelope, obviously containing money, dropped out of his pocket, and I picked it up and followed him. I was going to call him and give it to him, but I noticed that there was a young woman in the car, so I went back in, counted it and put it in a drawer in the hall. He came back after some ten minutes.
‘Excuse me, I dropped an envelope containing money. You must have seen it’.
‘Yes, I saw it. Actually, I followed you, and was about to call you and hand it over to you when I realised that there was a woman in the car, so I came back in. I counted it. One thousand cedis.
‘Well let me have it. I have to be going’.
‘I will let you have it if you will tell me who the woman in the car is, and why you are going to give her that amount of money’.
‘Listen, if you waste my time, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget. Give me the money now!’
‘Here’s what we will do, Martin. I know you will give money to her anyway, so I will give it to you, if you will withdraw the threat you just issued. But I want you to know that I will be taking some steps from tomorrow. Things are getting out of hand’.
‘Okay, I’m sorry I threatened you. Can you please give me the money’. I handed it over to him, and he ran out’.
The following morning, I waited for him to finish having breakfast, and told him I wanted to have a word with him urgently.
‘You better be quick. You know I’m going to work’.
‘Well, I want to inform you that I will inform my parents, and your parents, about the situation in this house. As I said yesterday, things are getting out of hand. You spend most of your time drinking. You get drunk every evening, and through the weekend. And you are also spending your time and money on a prostitute’.
‘How dare you? One more stupid word from you …’
‘Am I lying, Martin? You have just started life, yet you are behaving like a rich, elderly man who has already seen his children through university, and can afford a life of fun. As I said, I’m going to inform our parents. Maybe your parents can straighten you out before it is too late’.
‘Look, we can talk this evening. It’s nothing like what you are saying’. He walked away, shocked.
That evening, I was expecting to have a meaningful discussion with him, but his mother called early in the evening to offer me some ‘advice’. Her son had called to say that certain developments at home were disturbing him so much that they were beginning to affect his work.
And, ‘as a loving mother to her daughter’, she was advising me to submit to my husband, and support him in prayer, and not ‘drive him from home’. Men would always be men, and she was telling me ‘from experience’ that no matter how much time Martin stayed away from home, he would always come home to me.
She had been a young wife before, so she understood the challenges I was facing. So I could be assured that if I followed her advice, all would be well. And, of course, she didn’t allow me to tell my side of the story.
Martin came home very late, and very drunk. And from the next morning, he carried on as before. With some hesitation, I called my dad and told him all that had gone on.
‘Well, my daughter. I’m not going to say “I told you so”. I was only trying to protect you. So here’s what we’ll do. Continue doing the best you can, and try not to give him any excuse to harm you, but if things continue to deteriorate, I will take you back.
A couple of days later, my cousin Dinah arrived in Accra from Brussels, having completed her medical course. With Martin’s agreement, I went to Koforidua and spent a couple of days. I spent most of the time chatting about her experiences in the US, but we also discussed my relationship with Martin, and she endorsed Dad’s decision to take action if Martin’s behaviour did not change after two weeks Elaine informed Mom and Dad. We endorsed Dad’s decision to take action if there was no change in two weeks.
Dinah returned with me to Takoradi. Her plan was to spend a couple of weeks, and return to Accra to be posted. I called Paul Allotey, and asked if he would meet her for lunch and, if possible, show her some interesting spots. Delighted, he suggested that we meet at Royalty the next day.
I told Martin about it, to remove any possibility of future disagreement over ‘going out with men’.
‘It’s fine with me’, he said, ‘if, of all the people who could show your sister round this town, you chose a borla man. Doesn’t that indicate the kind of person you are?’
‘ First of all, Martin’, I’ve spoken to him a few times, and he comes across as a decent guy, so I think it is rather unfortunate that you are writing him off when you don’t know him’.
By Ekow de Heer
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