Features
Our economic turmoil
• The prices of foodstuffs and non-food items have become so unbearably high
that we do not even know what to do about the situation
About five years ago, if anyone had predicted that Ghana and the world would be facing economic challenges of this dimension, many people would have hooted at such a person in disbelief.
Ghana’s economy was moving forward so well that we were not able to foresee the current economic hardships that have now bedevilled Ghana and the rest of the world. Measures taken by the country in the form of One District, One Factory, and Planting for Food and Jobs, were all measures that were being implemented in the right direction. Planting for Food and Jobs, for example, was meant to bring in enough food items to feed the people in Ghana and export the surplus to other countries.
Seeing it in this light, it was a good step that could have yielded fruitful results had it not been engulfed in this inflationary situation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine war. It is unfortunate that things have gone this way, making life quite unbearable for Ghanaians.
As we speak today, the prices of foodstuffs and non-food items have become so unbearably high that we do not even know what to do about the situation. However, this is the time to remain calm and bring people together to live in peace while we take steps to reorganise ourselves and make life better for everyone in this country.
We cannot allow the present unpleasant economic situation to weigh us down so low that we are unable to recover from the crisis. It is an economic crisis that is hitting us hard, such that sometimes we wonder whether the world is really coming to an end.
Food prices are unbearable, and when we find such foods, it becomes difficult to get enough money to purchase them. People are also complaining about transportation fares and many other items that are sold on the market, claiming that prices keep changing every day beyond the control of consumers.
It is, therefore, very hard times, and it is good that the President has recognised this and made it clear that his administration is working hard and taking steps to overcome the situation and make life better for Ghanaians. In such a situation, it becomes difficult for anyone to believe that things can turn around for better economic growth in the future and also improve the welfare of people in this country.
Many Ghanaians appear to have lost hope because the situation is really tough. However, this is the time to remain firm or resolute and move away from all states of hopelessness and instead accommodate some hope that things will be better. It is better to have hope and rebuild destroyed structures than to lose hope and appear helpless to do anything good for ourselves.
In the year 1983, for example, Ghana faced a similar situation, making it very difficult for Ghanaians to believe that the future would be bright. Across the country, there were bushfires. Food crops were burnt to ashes, and all animals in the bush were killed by fire.
It was a pathetic situation at the time, but Ghanaians were able to recover and come back to enjoy their normal economic life.
One of the unpleasant things that readily comes to mind is the shortage of food in the country, as a result of which many old people had to die of hunger. The usual Ghanaian food known as Ga kenkey was bought while an effort was made to cook it.
In other words, this form of kenkey was bought in its uncooked form. During this time, if a person waited for it to be boiled or cooked before selling it, that person risked losing the sale to other customers who were willing to buy the product in its raw state.
This situation tells us how desperate Ghanaians were at the time. In fact, everything was in short supply, with the exception of air, which we could breathe freely for survival.
The situation may appear to be exaggerated because it is now too difficult to believe, but it is true, and all those who are now 50 years of age or older can remember this horrible situation if only they were living in this country.
Many of the young people in this country, 35 years old and under, did not experience this horrible situation because they were either not born or were babies at the time. It was an unbelievable situation that today’s young people, aged 20 and older, could not accept as true. Apart from food, other products were also in short supply. Things like packaged sugar, rice, cooking oils, etc. became known as “essential commodities.” These essential commodities were stored in particular centres that accommodated them and sold to the public on a rational basis. What this meant was that essential commodities had to be rationed so that as many people as possible could buy some for their families.
Fuel for vehicles was also in short supply. The only thing that existed in abundance was salt. God also made air available without charge to the public. What to wear was unconsidered because a man had to consider what to eat and survive before considering anything else. Those of us who were not alive at the time would find it difficult to believe this situation.
Having gone through all this terrible situation, Ghanaians did not die but continued to live to rebuild the economy. Many of the people who were young at the time are now old, apart from those who are dead and gone.
Compared with today, we can say that the situation now, though difficult, is far better than that of 1983, which also saw many Ghanaians being deported from neighbouring countries, particularly Nigeria, where many Ghanaians had gone to seek rescue for a better life. It was not easy at all for this country.
First of all, food is not in short supply today. The problem, however, is that their prices keep rising, making it difficult for people to plan their budgets for their households.
Secondly, no Ghanaians have been deported to add to the numbers of people in the country who are already hungry. Again, fuel is available, except that the price keeps rising.
Against this background, therefore, it is clear that the economic situation today, though not the best, is far better than what was experienced by Ghanaians in 1983. Things improved after 1983, beginning in 1985. It is, therefore, clear that the present situation can also be overcome and that we do not need to fight against one another and insult one another as we try to find solutions to the economic problems confronting us.
The President of the Republic has pointed out that we should rally behind him to overcome the problems so that life can be made better for every Ghanaian. In his own words, “This too shall pass.”
Ghanaians must remain united to overcome the current economic challenges so that no one can bring disunity among us and tear the country apart. The Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, and everyone else should work together to ensure that this problem is resolved quickly, after appropriate economic growth strategies are implemented.
Let us remain united to overcome this economic turmoil that is confronting this dear nation of ours.
Contact email/whatsApp address of author:
Pradmat201@gmail.com
(0553318911)
By Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
THE typical itinerant salesman in Sikaman is a herbalist. He is normally a slim macho with the capacity to perambulate the expanse of area covering the triangle of Accra-Tema-Ashiaman. In short, he can walk a total of 60 miles a day, marketing a product that cures every disease, including poverty. 
The door-to-door herbal pharmacist advertises his product by word of mouth. He has nothing to do with the Food and Drugs Board (FDB). After all, his concoctions do not feature on FM stations.
Those herbalists who cannot walk to propagate the herbal gospel, liaise with drivers of mass transportation and their mates. They are, therefore, given the chance to sell their products on Benz buses that ply the routes.
Normally, the herbalist starts his sales message with a prayer and Bible study. He asks the passengers to bow down their heads in supplication to God the father, the son, the Holy Spirit.
When a herbalist asks the passengers to close their eyes and bow their heads, Moslems on board naturally feel offended. They feel that the herbalist has no right to assume that every passenger is a Christian. They think such an assumption is an affront to Islam.
So a Moslem on board will raise the hand for a point of order. He’ll remind the herbalist that it would be in his own interest to mind his language.
“Be careful the way you address people in a public place. Not every person here is a Christian,” he’d state assertively.
Of course, the herbalist will promptly ignore him, but would all the same “watch” his tongue. Who knows whether or not the Moslem brother is inspired by Quoranic zeal to defend the tenets of Islam to the hilt?
When he starts saying, “Wallahi!” and “Inshallah!” it could be the beginning of proclaiming Islam as supreme, a point which must be driven home with talibanic precision.
So the herbalist must tread carefully lest he steps on fire.
The herbalist could even add a measure of mirth to it all, by announcing that Christians on board today have very interesting company on the journey, but that should not detract from the business of the day.
The Moslem brother will weigh the words carefully and offer a wry smile.
He must be careful the occasion does not degenerate into the use of semantics and proverbial oration to deride his conviction that public utterances must be mindful of religious sensibilities. He has made his point very clear and expects that it is taken in good faith in the interest of a peaceful journey.
The herbalist will now open the New Testament and preach salvation, stating clearly that salvation can come only through Jesus Christ and NOBODY else.
The Moslem brother will now start twitching his moustache. The visible and almost revolutionary reflexes of his upper lip can be an indication that sentiments have begun superseding reason, and the outcome could well be tragic now shift uneasily in his seat.
The time has come for him to also express his right to the religion of his fore-bears. He’ll put his hand into his pocket and rise to his feet. The time has indeed come!
This article was first published on Saturday, September 9, 2006
When the cause of a particular problem like sickness, disease, sudden illness, a social issue etc. are not known, it stands to reason that resolving it becomes a huge challenge.
Citizens would understand the government when public announcements are made to the effect that government is trying to find a solution to the issue, even though it is taking a while for it to be resolved because citizens are rational beings.
On the other hand, if the solution to a particular issue is known to everybody but the government for whatever reason, is dragging its feet in resolving it, citizens become frustrated and begin to lose trust in their leaders.
One such issue is the heavy traffic along a section of the Kasoa – Odokor road. A short stretch of bad road between the traffic light at the Weija Government Hospital and the entrance to the entrance of the overhead that leads to the N1, is the cause of the problem but nothing is being done about it, day after day, week after week, month after month. Thus is clearly unacceptable.
Another issue that requires urgent attention is the lack of pavements along a lot of streets in parts of the various Municipal Assemblies. Exercise is a prerequisite for long life and healthy living and for those of us who it has become a way of life, this issue of people putting up structures right to the edge of the drains beside the roads, are making life difficult for us.
We are compelled to walk along the roads, putting our lives at serious risk. Pedestrians should never be compelled to compete with vehicles on our streets and roads. Roads and streets are made for vehicles and pavements are made for pedestrians. That is the norm. Any attempt to normalise a situation where pedestrians are mingling with vehicles is insanity.
It is the road regulations that makes it so and therefore district or municipal assemblies are to take responsibility and ensure that spaces for pavements are not encroached upon. Citizens have rights that must be protected by their leaders and making pavements available to pedestrians, is one of them.
When we hear of teachers having sex with students, it appears it is something recent. It is not a new phenomenon. It has been there since Adam. Perhaps this issue is getting much attention due to the proliferation of social media. It was an open secret in times past when Teachers were in relationships with female students and some married them immediately after completion of school.
Some teachers were also known to be having unholy interactions with female pupils but due to the times that these acts occurred, human rights issues and the awareness around it, allowed such unscrupulous teachers to get away with their crimes.
Now we are in a different era and so a Headmaster is now in hot waters. He is alleged to have raped about 19 female students and as usual, some officials tried to cover it up and are also in hot waters and their actions or inactions in the matter are under investigation.
Why the man has been allowed to roam freely without being arrested is simply mind boggling. It appears that the law applies differently, depending on who you are. This issue came to public attention sometime in August this year, yet the police had not arrested or invited this man for question regarding the rape allegation.
It has come out that he is a Constituency Secretary of the ruling party and the question in the public domain is that, is it because he is a political figure that is why he is still walking around without questioning? I believe in the rule of law so let us hold our breadth and let the proper thing be done.
The police must however be seen to be active in this matter. God bless.
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