Features
Ghana needs radical constitutional reforms …as we seek economic support from the IMF
Times are, indeed, very hard and Ghana our beloved country is not what it used to be in the past. The country is now more than a hell, with things beginning to fall apart and if we do not take care, very soon, the centre will not hold, with apology to Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart novel. As of now, it is the fervent prayer of every Ghanaian citizen that our hope in the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) economic bailout, will yield a positive result within the shortest possible time, so as to lift this country out of the economic mess it finds itself.
GMA SECRETARY’S ASSERTION
As the current General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Titus Kofi Beyuo, once pointed out in a television programme recently, “The state of Ghana now, is like a patient at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of any health facility with all the supporting breathing instruments on him or her while gasping for breath. As soon as these health supports are removed, it means that is the end of the patient Ghana”. That is exactly the situation in which Ghana finds itself in at the moment, as it battles for breath of survival.
Indeed, without mincing words, Ghana is in a state of coma and unless something extra-ordinary and urgently is done to revive the shattered and downward trend of the economy, the possibility of this country becoming doomed, cannot be ruled out. The leaders have been overwhelmed with the challenges the country is facing hence taking an advantage of the IMF bailout which does not come easily but with certain harsh conditions. Currently, the country is in a difficult situation, saddled with high cost of living and severe hardships. Prices of goods and services are astronomically high, people have grounded their cars due to high cost of fuel, motorists, especially public transportation, are finding it difficult to break even, due to increase in spare parts and other lubricants. Landlords and prospective developers are complaining bitterly due to the high cost of building materials such as cement, iron rod, sand, stone, roofing sheet, floor tiles among others.
PLIGHT OF PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS
Currently, public sector workers are facing severe difficulties as their take home pay cannot sustain them and their dependants. The high inflation rate coupled with the high cost of living, has eroded the monthly salaries of workers, thereby deepening their woes and making them impoverished. People’s health conditions are deteriorating faster than it used to be as they find it extremely difficult to access medical facilities due to underlying poverty and lack of funds. The situation we find ourselves in now, is just too bad and uncomfortable to say the least.
Even though President Akufo-Addo and for that matter the government, has admitted that we are in a terrible economic crisis, nevertheless, it keeps laying the blame at the doorstep of the COVID-19 pandemic which rocked the entire world in 2019, causing a lot of misery and havoc as well as the Russian-Ukraine war which affected the importation of certain goods and services from those two countries by nations which relied on them for survival. The government’s defence that the situation was a global challenge, has been debunked by economic think tanks in the country, arguing that it was a failure on the part of the government and its appointees to put proper structures in place to curtail the difficulties we find ourselves in at the moment. According to them, people placed in positions of authority have failed to manage the economy in the right perspectives.
CALLS FOR THE DISMISSAL OF FINANCE MINISTER
The recent call by both the Majority and Minority caucuses in Parliament to the President to sack the Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State in-charge of Finance, Dr. Charles Adu Boahen, who was recently dismissed by the President on grounds of corruption allegation against him, attests to the fact that, those put in charge of our economic management, are not performing to expectation, hence the economic downturn. If MPs from the ruling party, the NPP, are calling on the President for the removal of personalities who are managing the public purse, then there is a systematic failure in government which needs to be addressed. As we speak now, there is a censure motion pending against the substantive Minister Ken Ofori-Atta which will be debated in parliament by the full house.
ECONOMIC CHALLENGES
As of now, some of the economic challenges the country faces are unemployment, corruption, inconsistent economic policies, poor human capital development, poor health system, crime and terrorism. Our major problem is the rising debt which stands above 80 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is projected to reach 104 per cent by the end of 2022. The country has been thrust into debt distress as 70 per cent of its total revenue must go towards debt servicing. The GDP rate in Ghana is expected to reach 72 billion dollars by the end of 2022, according to Trading Economic global macro models and analyst expectations. However, some financial analysts have suggested that in order to revamp the economy, we need to support private sector growth in strategic export oriented sectors but not limited to agriculture and agricultural processing services to ensure greater export, garment and apparel production and light manufacturing.
SOLUTIONS TO THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
It is also suggested that to confront the graduate unemployment situation in the country, a youth programmed fund should be created to fund start-up businesses for the youth. Government should also encourage young people to pursue technical education. We need to promote transparency and access to information. We must create funding and strengthen agencies to prosecute corrupt cases. Children must be given access to quality education, while at the same time ensuring basic health care for all Ghanaians.
The large size of government has been a thorny issue which is posing a serious threat to the country’s advancement since it serves as a drain to our meagre financial and economic resources. For now, most Ghanaians are suggesting that, there should be a drastic reduction of ministers to a maximum of between 10 and 12, while at the same time merging some of the ministries to take up other duplicating and similar roles. Some people have also argued that, until the economy is put on a sound footing, the position of District Chief Executive, should be suspended, while we allow the respective regional ministers to take up their roles and functions in their respective jurisdictions to cut down cost and conserve resources. It is also being suggested that the current number of 275 MPs should be reduced to at least 200, and this means we have to review our Constitutional requirements.
ADDITIONAL ROLE FOR VEEP
A suggestion is made that in view of the financial background of the current Vice President who is the Head of the Economic Management Team, he should be given an additional responsibility as Minister responsible for Finance, with at least a competent deputy to manage the finance portfolio. The argument being put across is that, “your area of expertise that made you to gain the position in government must be put into practice”.
These are, indeed, fine and pragmatic suggestions from a section of Ghanaians which must be seriously considered at this time of the country’s history when it is confronted with a lot of challenges and, therefore, needs various and varied solutions and interventions to our problems, as we try to access the IMF facility to put our economy in good shape. All we need at this critical period, is a referendum that will encourage Ghanaians to pool ideas, irrespective of party affiliations to hit the ground running. Ghana is at a crossroads and we need all hands on deck to resuscitate our ailing economy once and for all. Once the government has admitted that, we are in economic crisis, this is the time to call on Ghanaians to support government’s efforts in revamping the ailing economy.
TRIBUTE TO DR. KWESI BOTCHWEY
This article will not be complete without paying a special tribute to the Prof. Kwesi Botchwey of blessed memory, a former long serving Finance Minister in Ghana and who until his death, was so passionate about the turn of events in Ghana and had been speaking a lot about the country’s economic downturn and professing tangible solutions for its recovery. He would be sorely missed by Ghanaians for his rich ideas on the economy. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
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By Charles Neequaye
Conflict at work is more common than you might think. According to 2022 research by The Myers-Briggs Company, more than a third of the workforce reports dealing with conflict often, very often, or all the time in the workplace. The same report found that managers spend an average of four hours per week dealing with conflict, and nearly 25 per cent of people think their managers handle conflict poorly or very poorly.
Addressing a dispute might feel tense or awkward, but resolving the conflict is typically well worth it in the long run. Whether you’re trying to mediate conflict between colleagues or are directly involved, here are seven steps you can take to manage workplace conflict.
1. Don’t put it off
Facing conflict head-on is hard. However, waiting too long to address it can negatively impact your emotional well-being, focus, and the entire office environment. If you’re feeling angry, letting that emotion fester can also escalate it over time. This can make you less responsive to other points of view and make it harder to resolve the issue.
The sooner you can address the conflict, the better it will be for you, the person you disagree with, and your entire team.
2. Learn all you can about the problem
It’s important to determine the type of conflict you’re dealing with. Begin by considering the cause of the conflict. For example, ask yourself whether someone said something that upset you or if you have emotions of anger and resentment that stemmed from something that happened.
Then try to identify if it’s a task, relationship, value, or team conflict. Once you know what type of conflict it is, you can work to resolve it with specific tactics for that situation.
If you skip this step, you may waste time or escalate the situation further by trying to address issues irrelevant to the real conflict.
3. Actively listen
Listen attentively when people share their side of the story. Active listening is one of the most valuable professional skills you can possess. This type of listening involves not only hearing what the other person is saying but also listening to understand their point of view.
No matter your role in conflict, it’s easy to begin sharing your opinion with little regard for the other people involved. However, it’s important to learn about all sides of a disagreement to make well-informed decisions before drawing conclusions.
To reach a resolution, you must step back and prioritize listening over talking. Ultimately, that will encourage the other person to do the same when it’s your turn to speak. –source: betterup.com
Today, I focus on the Temple Of Praise Ministries International (TOP Church) in Helsinki, as I continue my description of personalities or institutions and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The TOP Church in Finland has seen significant strides and accomplishments that must be made known to the public. 
Some history
The Church was established in Finland in September 2016. Since its inception, it has steadily grown both spiritually and numerically, by the grace of God, as disclosed to me by Mr Matthew Anini Twumasi, the Presiding Elder of TOP’s branch in Finland. The TOP Church has other branches across Africa, Europe, and America.
The Church in Finland was founded with a vision to create a welcoming and dynamic community where people could experience God’s love and grace (see, www.topchurchfinland.org). According to Presiding Elder Matthew, the TOP Church operates within a unique environment where Christianity coexists with what is seen as a largely secular society.
Despite this, he submits, there are significant opportunities for outreach, unity, and demonstrating the love of Christ through service and community engagement.
Activities
Church services at the TOP Church are typically held on Sundays for the main worship. In addition, there are mid-week prayer sessions, Saturday prayer services, and a half-night service held on the last Friday of every month. “We also organise quarterly programs”, Elder Matthew added.
His impression of the Church so far has been positive. “It is a vibrant and welcoming community where members are committed to worship, fellowship, and supporting one another in faith”, he stated.
In sum, Elder Matthew said the Church continues to grow by God’s grace. “We remain hopeful and committed to spreading the Gospel, strengthening the faith of our members, and making a positive impact in society”, he continued.
Achievements
The TOP Church has a number of achievements and achievements. Some of the strengths include strong community bonds, cultural diversity, and deep commitment to spiritual growth.
I also remember that during the COVID-19 period, I heard that the TOP Church was one such bodies that hugely supported its members and others to cope with the situation.
According to Elder Matthew, the challenges facing the church include “adapting to cultural differences, engaging the younger generation, expanding outreach in a secular society, and securing a permanent place of worship”.
Role in the Ghanaian community in Finland
The TOP Church plays a prominent role as a religious group that serves Ghanaian migrants and others in the Finnish society.
Thus, the TOP Church is a religious body for Ghanaian migrants in Finland and other nationalities who want to worship with them for diversity and better intercultural and multicultural understanding.
The Church also has mechanisms in place to support its members who are bereaved as a way to commiserate with them in times of death and funerals.
The Ghanaian community has played a vital role in the growth of the Church. Their strong sense of fellowship, dedication to worship, and active participation have helped build a solid foundation and attract others to the ministry, according to Elder Matthew.
Integration
By its activities, the TOP Church is helping to ensure integration of its members well into the Finish society.
This is important since social interaction and citizens’ well-being are an important part of the integration process.
The role of migrant associations and groups such as TOP Church acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland. Thank you!
GHANA MATTERS column appears fortnightly. Written in simple, layman’s terms, it concentrates on matters about Ghana and beyond. It focuses on everyday life issues relating to the social, cultural, economic, religious, political, health, sports, youth, gender, etc. It strives to remind us all that Ghana comes first. The column also takes a candid look at the meanings and repercussions of our actions, especially those things we take for granted or even ignore. There are key Ghanaian values we should uphold rather than disregard with impunity. We should not overlook the obvious. We need to search for the hidden or deeply embedded values and try to project them.
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
