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Burning Issues Economic demands and pressure on the national kitty
Various demands come from various sectors of the economy and these demands cannot be overlooked since they are all important towards the developmental agenda of the country as well as helping to improve upon the general welfare of the people.
Such intricate and various demands look justified but in terms of the national kitty, one may wonder whether all such demands can be met with the limited resources available in the country. This explains why economists express the view that the wants of man are unlimited but the resources to satisfy them are very limited.
This position adopted by economists is very true wherever we find ourselves in any part of the world. In comparative terms, the US may have more resources than each of the countries in the developing world. The same rule applies to Canada, Japan, Germany and other rich countries but once again the general rule is that in terms of humans, resources are limited so we cannot satisfy all our needs at the same time.
JUDICIOUS USE OF RESOURCES
This explains why we have to make judicious use of available resources for all competing demands in this country so that only the most important demands can be satisfied at the same time.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on the economies of countries the world over making it difficult for both rich and poor nations to attend to the needs of their respective citizens. As a result of the inability to meet all these demands, there could be uproar and disorderliness, creating needless tension in society.
SEEMINGLY JUSTIFIED DEMANDS
Many a time, each group of people may think that their demand or request is more important than any other thing in society for which reason all resources must be used to satisfy such demand even to the neglect of other equally important ones.
In the educational sector in Ghana for example, teachers across various levels are crying for better salaries and better conditions of service. Various teacher unions such as NAGRAT, GNAT and many others are always putting forward their request for better conditions of service.
Apart from this, there may be the need to build more infrastructure and other facilities for Primary, Senior High Schools as well as Technical and Vocational Institutions. Similarly, there may be the need to supply such schools with equipment for their vocational and technical training and also laboratory work when it comes to the senior high schools.
DEMANDS OF TEACHERS
In the same way, teachers at the higher levels, that is the universities, are also calling for better conditions of service to the dismay of certain sections of the world that may see such strikes as strange. All this puts tremendous pressure on the national kitty which does not have enough resources to satisfy all the demands.
Within the health sector, many villages and towns are still in need of clinics and hospitals as well as health laboratories and equipment to address the health needs of the people. It is for this reason that the Akufo-Addo led government has come up with Agenda 111 which is a programme aimed at setting up a number of hospitals at the district and regional levels, all totalling 111.
IMPROVEMENT
If all these are provided, they will go to improve upon the health needs of the people in the country. In addition, government is expected to find money to bring in drugs which will be used to cater for the same health needs of the people.
When we come to the area of water and sanitation, we will need millions of Ghana Cedis to expand the system for water supply so that people can get good drinking water to keep away from needless diseases. What a world!
In the area of agriculture, we need huge investments for fertiliser to be able to produce abundant food stock to feed the people. In the same way, agricultural implements and facilities are required to facilitate agricultural production in various levels and also to promote agribusiness to make life better for everyone.
RELIABLE ENERGY SECTOR
The energy sector cannot be left out. Indeed, without a reliable or dependable energy sector, the economy cannot grow as expected. It is for this reason that we do not have to joke with the energy sector, making sure that there is always enough energy to propel factories and other business entities to operate.
Again in the area of tourism, huge sums of money are needed to open up the country for tourism purposes. Both domestic and international tourism are important but without developing tourist sites in the country, it will be difficult for us to promote tourism whether at the national or international level.
ACCIDENTS
In addition to all these, accidents are bound to happen which may also require emergency donations from unplanned sources to satisfy our human needs. A good example is the recent Appiatse disaster which led to loss of lives and property. For this reason, the nation is organising donations to rebuild the community of Appiatse.
All these are indications and development of the pressure on the national kitty. Together, they are unbearable. If it is unbearable, then we need to be reasonable in our demands and give the government some time to plan well to satisfy the needs of everyone. It is equally important for the state to be more productive in its business organisation to be able to generate more revenue to satisfy all the demands.
SYSTEM OF TAXATION
At the same time, the system of taxation must be looked at again so that more people can be brought into the tax bracket. In all these, we also need to use technology to bring some improvement into the tax payment system so that corrupt practices can be minimised if not totally eliminated.
These measures are good but it will take a much longer time to bring all of them into fruition so that the national kitty will be filled with more money to address the national needs of everyone in the country. If this can be done, it will help the country as a whole and reduce the high tensions that characterise social relations and interactions.
POUND OF FLESH
No matter how one looks at it, people with varied demands from various sectors of the economy, though justified in their demands, must be reasonable and tolerant instead of demanding their full pound of flesh from the national kitty. Even if they get their full pound of flesh, other people in other sectors of the economy will also place higher demands on them and in no time compel them to deplete the money at their disposal. Such demands may come from mechanics and health sectors and many other areas that may also see the need to demand their own pound of flesh.
It is, therefore, more reasonable for each and every individual or groups of people to be more tolerant and kind to one another so that, step by step, the various competing needs of everyone in the country will be addressed even if slowly, for everyone to be happy.
VERY DIFFICULT TIMES
We are in very difficult times so no matter how justified we may think we are in our demands, we would have to agree to care for each and every person in the country by being a bit more tolerant, knowing that others are also depending on the national kitty for their survival.
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BY DR. KOFI AMPONSAH-BEDIAKO
Even though Martin and his family were well known to my parents, the issue of my marriage to him generated great controversy at home. Mama thought he was nice and respectful, and since his parents were hardworking and of good report, he would be a good husband for me.
But Dada said nothing in his demeanour convinced him. Martin had to wait for over four months for their decision.
On my part, I was indifferent. All my friends and relatives thought he was a nice, respectable guy. And since he was a graduate with a good job at the Excel Health Insurance Company, they felt he would take good care of me.
I thought they made some sense. I quite liked him. He was always nicely dressed, and had the aura of a responsible person who had a great career future. But I didn’t feel the kind of love or even affection I thought I should feel for a prospective husband.
And the other problem was that even though everyone thought I was intelligent, I had been unable to pass WASSCE after three determined attempts. I badly wanted to get a degree.
But everyone encouraged me to go ahead. Love, they said, often developed over time. And as for getting a degree, there were so many paths. One could even write a matured students’ exam and enter the university.
And since Martin himself was a graduate, it was almost certain that he would assist me, since I would then be in a position to support him, at least financially.
Eventually, my parents came to some form of agreement. Dada would accept ‘drinks’ from Martin’s family to signify that he had agreed to our relationship, and I could even go and live with him if I wanted to. But he would agree to the actual formal ceremony after Martin had ‘proven himself’.
Martin was promoted to the rank of Manager and transferred to Takoradi. He rented a nice flat, and I joined him. Life was very comfortable, initially. Rather early in the day, he started coming home around eight about three days in the week, even though he closed at four-thirty.
He explained that he spent a couple of hours at the club house with his contemporaries working in Takoradi, and that it was nothing to worry about. At least, he said, I always knew where to find him. And moreover, he made sure he didn’t stay too late. I didn’t worry too much about it, because when he was home, we enjoyed each other’s company.
Then the problems with the ladies started. I saw the signs early. First, he always went out of earshot to take his calls. Then I started smelling ladies perfumes on his shirts. Then he put a password on his phone.
After many attempts, I broke into his phone, and saw quite a number of intimate exchanges between him and one Elaine. So the following morning, I called Elaine, introduced myself as Martin’s wife, and asked her to stop seeing him, forthwith. I assured her that if she didn’t, she would face worse problems than she was causing me.
That evening, Martin parked the car, flung the door open, and demanded to know why I called her. Before I could answer, he slapped me. I fell, more out of shock than the effect of the slap.
‘Sarah, you are lucky I didn’t give you some dirty blows!’ he declared as he walked away’.
I got up and went to the kitchen, turned off the half cooked jollof rice, and sat on the stool. He came in after several minutes.
‘Are you bringing my food or shall I get someone to give me food?’ I ignored him. He picked up the car keys and walked out. But he must have given up on that plan, because he returned to the kitchen, peeled some kenkey, put two pieces of chicken and some shito on the plate, and sat down to eat.
I spent the night in the spare room, alternating between thinking of my future outside marriage, and catching up on my WhatsApp messages. Before slipping into sleep, I prayed for guidance to take the right steps, and psyched myself up to live a disciplined, fruitful life, no matter the obstacles that came my way. I decided to start working towards university admission the following morning. I would buy the draft, do the application online, and treat myself to a good lunch.
I woke up at about 6.15, prepared breakfast, and went to the bathroom. I dressed and came to the hall to find that Martin had eaten breakfast and gone off to work. Just when I finished breakfast, my sister Dinah called from Brussels, and for the next hour and a half we discussed arrangements for her return. I locked up the shop at about ten, and was walking off to the bank when a young man stepped out of a pick-up vehicle with a Top Clean sign. He greeted, and I responded.
‘Sorry to disturb you, madam. Can I give you the past month’s cleaning bill?’
‘Ah, okay. Thank you’. He started walking away, then he stopped and turned.
‘Madam, I hope you don’t mind. Please forgive me. I stood, waiting.
Madam, you are very beautiful. Your husband is a very lucky man’. Tears rolled down my cheeks.
‘Oh madam. Please forgive me. I’m very, very sorry’.
‘Don’t worry’, I said. ‘You’ve done nothing wrong’.
‘Then please allow me to take you where you are going’.
‘I’m going to the nearest bank to make a draft’.
‘Okay, let’s go. Er, quite obviously, you are going to prepare the draft for a purpose. Do you mind if I take you there?’
‘I wouldn’t want to take up your time. After doing the draft, I’ll go to the nearest internet cafe to fill an online application’.
‘No problem. I’ll take you there. Please forgive me if I’m being a nuisance. But actually, I have a couple of hours to spare. And moreover, you are our client, so this is one way of thanking you for your patronage’.
‘Okay, you’re on. Let’s do it’.
He stopped at the bank, and I spent some twenty minutes getting the draft done. He was busy on his tablet when I got back, entering some figures into a table. He turned it off and started the engine.
‘Now’, he said, ‘let me take you to a comfortable cafe where the internet is reasonably fast, and you can work in some privacy. I’ve used it a couple of times. And as you’ve already seen, you can take as much time as you like. I’ll be doing some work’.
‘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. By 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’.
By Ekow de Heer
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LATELY it has become pretty difficult to distinguish between a Valentine fan and a Asante Kotoko supporter. The red colour is the veritable point of confusion.
Sometimes you are lucky to meet a Valentine celebrant who is also a Kotoko supporter. You can be sure that such a character will wear a red dress, red hat, red shoes and sport a red moustache. Certainly he is not a lunatic. The guy knows what he is about.
The problem with Valentine in Sikaman is that it has defied all manner of definitions. Even some people think it is a yam festival. So they procure palm oil to go with it. And why not? Isn’t palm oil red?
Others think it is a day of love, where love, properly but misguidedly defined, means sex. So they go from one drug store to another buying all sorts of condoms including Rough Rider and ‘Wo Ye Mecho’. Some go booking hotel rooms a day or two earlier. On February 14, those rooms will be turned into surgical units for the dissection of Valentine fools, those who mistake the occasion for fornication and adultery.
This year, the celebration of Valentine is taking a political turn. People say they will be demonstrating against something called Representation of People’s Amendment Bill (ROPAB). You can be sure that the demonstrators will be in pure red all over.
The funny thing about this bill is that it is the darling idea of one political party and snake venom for another. It all has to do with Ghanaians abroad, whether they are domiciled in Libya or Morocco or languishing in Iceland or Greenland.
If passed, this bill will enable them all to vote in general elections. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government wants it passed while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Convention People’s Party (CPP) do not. They claim it could spark an inferno, a conflagration (many apologies to Arnold Quainoo).
These days, we are not hearing many Big English that are political in form and content. In the days of Jerry Rawlings, the English Language was much vibrant, spoke with revolutionary zeal, sometimes with military enthusiasm.
And when the famous historian and ex-presidential aspirant, Professor Adu Boahen, delivered his famous “Men on Horse Back” lecture, General Arnold Quainoo quickly delivered a rejoinder on the spot, promising an ‘inferno and conflagration’ if anybody wanted to change the status quo. He spoke in a voice of thunder, which some nearly mistook for an earthquake. Today, democracy has watered down the use of political bombast and militant grandiloquence to convey thought and intention.
Now ROPAB has taken centre stage and time and energy are expended on debating the pros and cons. The opposition parties, mainly NDC and CPP, think the law may cause confusion if it is implemented. NPP, on the other hand, think it is a romantic bill that will be even more romantic if passed and implemented. What is more Valentinic than making your brothers and sisters abroad voting alongside those at home to elect the country’s leadership, especially when the constitution endorses it?
Now, the NDC is saying over and over again that they do not object to the passage of the bill, but why pass a bill whose implementation could be problematic? They claim that disputes could arise in foreign lands over the authenticity of ballots, which could bring the outcome of elections into doubt.
Well, political jargons, theories and theorems have been invented to properly argue the knotty points, and people have already developed hypertension over this bill. Some have suggested a referendum; others have insinuated the use of lots (as in the Bible) to determine the issue.
In the midst of these, a new political party is alleged to have been formed. Very interesting developments lately. The ‘Daily Guide’ says it is Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).
Well, forming political parties is in the interest of democracy. Views in any democratic dispensation must necessarily be divergent to deepen the concept of democracy. It is exactly like in religion. The more churches split, the more Christianity is likely to spread further afield. So the split in churches must be welcomed rather than condemned, because no one church can save all mankind. The message of God must be propagated by binary fission and not by mere evangelistic diffusion.
So it is coming to pass that rumours of a third force are coming to some reality. But in all these, what amount of time and energy is expended in discussing on radio the basic needs of Ghanaians—food, clothing, and shelter? About only 10 per cent is spent on these. The rest is politics, politics, and politics. Is that the way forward?
This article was first published on
Saturday February 11, 2006
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