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Proposed IMF bailout exposes unguarded utterances from our political leaders
Politics is the way people living in groups make decisions. It is about making agreements between people so that they can live together in groups such as tribes, cities or countries. In large groups, such as countries, some people may spend a lot of their time making such agreements.
It is very important to care about politics because you should know what is going on around you and also to have a say in things around you. The political decisions people make will affect many lives. Many people see politics as the government and the laws being made and that is true, but in a way it is more complicated. Alexis Mortensen in a write up about the importance of politics said; “We need to care about politics because the decision people make will affect many lives.”
UNGUARDED AND LOOSE POLITICAL STATEMENTS FROM PARTY STALWARTS
Having defined politics and how important it is to society, I am inclined to situate it to Ghana where the political terrain has taken a different dimension which allows the political actors (politicians) to say serious things without weighing their consequences in the future. In their quest to win the mandates of the people, they mount various platforms during their political campaigns, opening their mouths wide and saying all kinds of unguarded statements and loose utterances. They forget that these same utterances once they are in print and electronically recorded can be used against them by their opponents in the future with serious consequences.
They do not end there with these negative utterances when they assume leadership positions and various ministerial and other roles in government. They say worse things they cannot substantiate or defend, thus giving room to opponents to take them on and sometimes accuse and ‘blast them while in office. Some of the notable utterances were, “I shall protect the Public Purse. I am not corrupt and will never be corrupt. I can develop Ghana without borrowing, the money is here. I will transform Ghana in 18 months. I will not operate family and friends’ government. I will fight corruption with the Anas principle. I will make the Korle lagoon and Odor river tourists attraction. I will build a factory in every district. I will give each constituency $1 million every year. I will never go to the IMF for a bailout. I will build 111 hospitals in 18 months. The hikes in fuel prices will be a thing of the past” among others.
NPP TAKEN TO TASK FOR SEEKING HELP FROM IMF
Such is the situation we find ourselves in Ghana at the moment, where the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has been taken to task by the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) led by its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, following the announcement on Friday, July 1, 2022 that the current government led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has started negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide support for Ghana’s economy.
Before this bombshell was dropped, there had been series of utterances from NPP stalwarts and big shots including the Vice President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia and the Finance Minister, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta within the past few months saying emphatically that the country would not seek assistance from the IMF. In the words of the Finance Minister, “We have committed to not going back to the IMF because the Fund knows we are moving in the right direction. Ghana is committed to managing its debt without assistance from the IMF. We have the resources and the capacity is there. We are not people of short sight”.
ASSIN CENTRAL MP EXPRESSES REGRET FOR IMF ASSISTANCE
The vociferous Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, who once stood against any decision by the government to access the IMF facility and blasted the NDC for orchestrating that unfounded allegation, has quickly made a U-turn following the government’s announcement to engage with the IMF for support to help Ghana build back in the face of the challenges currently confronting the economy saying that he was sad about that statement.
According to him even though the party bigwigs had earlier told him after the announcement on Friday, July 1, 2022 not to comment on the issue, he could not keep quiet. Hear him. “IMF? What are we going to say again? Somebody texted me, don’t say anything about the IMF. Me, I shouldn’t say anything about IMF? I will say it. He said the NDC went to the IMF for a bailout because the government mismanaged the economy. Therefore, if the NPP government is also going to the IMF for support, it is just like handing over power to NDC without a contest, straight away.”
“Because of the noise we made, I chew my words back when I said the NDC went to IMF because of mismanagement of the economy. So if NPP is also going to the IMF, what am I going to say now? So breaking the eight(using Election 2024 NPP campaign message) is going to be tough,” he said.
NDC LEADERS COMMENT ON IMF INITIATIVE BY NPP
Leading members of the opposition NDC have been talking after the announcement was made on Friday, July 1, 2022. Former President John Mahama has welcomed the decision to go to the IMF and believes that it is a step in the right direction. He however, feels that things would have been better if the government had taken bold decision earlier. However, the current government says former President Mahama was not bedeviled with any form of crisis to resort to the IMF to fix the country’s economy and, therefore does not have the moral right to criticise them.
The government still maintains that although it has transformed the economy, it was hit by a pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war that has affected the economy.
Most Ghanaians are of the school of thought that the downward trend of the economy persisted long before the Russia-Ukraine war and the COVID-19 pandemic which the government was unable to solve and, therefore laying the problem at the doorsteps of those challenges is inaccurate.
FACTORS THAT LED TO GOING TO IMF
Three years after exiting the IMF programme we are being compelled to head back for assistance. Indeed, Ghanaians in recent months have been feeling the pinch of record inflation and the impact of the war somehow amidst the cut in government spending to avoid a full-blown debt crisis.
According to statistics. Ghana’s economy grew by 3.3% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021 and inflation surged to a record of 26.6 per cent in May. The country is also grappling with the high debt and a depreciating currency, the cedi. A controversial tax on electronic transactions (E-Levy) approved in April and presented as a solution to the economic challenges has also not generated the expected revenues.
Our economists are saying that going to the IMF is not a panacea to our economic problems because we will be compelled to adjust our economic policies to overcome the problems that led the country to seek financial aid. These policy adjustments are conditions for IMF loans and serve to ensure that the country will be able to repay the IMF.
GOING FOR IMF ASSISTANCE IS NON-NEGOTIABLE
It is a fact that the situation we are in now with the cost of living constantly soaring high as a result of the high inflation and the depreciation of the cedi to the dollar, there is clearly nothing we can do than to go for a bailout from the IMF. We should be ready to bite the bullet by accepting and coping with the high restrictions and conditions attached to the facility to help us out of this economic mess.
It is the hope of Ghanaians that the government will as much as possible take into consideration the high cost of living and the sufferings among the people so that in their negotiations with the IMF for the facility, they will not accept unilaterally, harsh conditions that will further worsen the plight of the people and impoverish them.
PLAYING POLITICS WITH THE LIVES OF GHANAIANS
It is indeed important for our leaders not to play politics with our way of living because it will go a long way to endanger the lives of the people. Governance is about the collective responsibility and not a preserve of a particular group. Therefore, if people outside the corridor of power, especially renowned and high profile economists have ideas that can move our dear country out of the mess, there is the need for governments to tolerate them irrespective of party affiliations. We are in the boat together and when it sinks we will perish together. We are lucky that we have two main political parties-NPP, NDC, unlike other jurisdictions across the world where they have splinter parties in parliament and, therefore we need to make a judicious use of the two main caucuses to salvage the downward trend of our economy and bring it back to life.
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By Charles Neequaye
The driver stopped the vehicle at the gate of the large, fenced property along the Nsawam Highway, and Kakraba stepped out to meet the several workers who had gathered to wait for him.
He greeted them and went straight to the point.
“Gentlemen, I am glad to see that you have almost completed the clearing of the land. I’m happy to report that we have concluded all arrangements with Nana Serebour, and construction of the palace will start in a few days.
“I will need you to go and level the ground, and then come back to start this project. Some workers from a construction company will come and join us.
“My plan is to build twenty houses in four months. Then we will do twenty more until we reach two hundred.
“I am relying on you to help me deliver good-quality work to satisfy our clients and, as I have already indicated to you, I will reward you for your work.”
After an hour’s discussion, he closed the meeting and moved to drive away. Wofa Yaw drew closer.
“Director, can you please spare me five minutes? I would like to discuss a small issue.”
“Why, Wofa Yaw? Your wife has threatened to leave you?”
“No, Director. My wife will never leave me. This concerns a young niece of mine.”
“I hope it’s something I can help with. Please sit in the car and let me hear you.”
“Boss, my niece, Beesiwa, is a polytechnic graduate, very beautiful and with very good character.
“Unfortunately, her parents virtually forced her into a relationship with an idiot based in the US, which affected her badly. She has now recovered from that experience and, Boss, I am respectfully asking if you would find a job for her.
“I promise you that you will never regret it.”
“Well, Wofa Yaw, let me meet her and speak with her. I may be able to help, maybe not in the way you expect, but let me meet her.
“I will not be back here for another week, but I will be at the office throughout next week. You can come with her.”
On Monday morning, Wofa Yaw and Beesiwa were seated at the office by nine o’clock. Three young ladies welcomed them warmly, offered them soft drinks and assured them that Kakraba would be there shortly.
They then returned to their desks and sat behind computers with large screens displaying various building designs.
Kakraba walked in and greeted them warmly. After chatting briefly with the three ladies, he ushered Wofa Yaw and Beesiwa into his office.
“Director, this is my niece, Beesiwa. I mentioned her to you when you came to Nsawam.”
“Yes, indeed. Madam Beesiwa, you are very beautiful, just as your uncle said. Wofa Yaw is my colleague.
“We have just started a building project that will take about three to four years. He mentioned that you have a small problem, so I said I would like to meet you and see how I can help.
“So, Beesiwa, please tell me a little about yourself.”
Beesiwa described her childhood, her school experience, her brief work at the bank and the nasty episode with Sammy Abrokwa, which shattered her peaceful life. She also explained how she had been recovering from the experience.
“I am really sorry to hear this,” Kakraba said. “Now, here is what we are going to do.
“We are a small but very busy company. The three ladies out there spend most of the day on site and come back to report on their work in the morning.
“I have three main projects. The big one is an estate project in Nsawam, where your uncle is one of my main colleagues. I need a personal assistant who can take care of my activities, especially when I am not in town.
“Now, we will have to start with trust. Based on what I know about Wofa Yaw, and based on what you yourself have told me, I think we can start on a sound basis.
“So, Wofa Yaw will take you to my home. You can move into one of the four guest rooms.”
“Sir, I have taken some computer lessons, and I have even done graphics and web design,” Beesiwa said.
“Fantastic! I will give you a good phone and a laptop. I will also arrange computer lessons for you.”
“Now, Wofa Yaw, take her home. My sister, Kuukuwa, will meet you and show you around, and then you can return to Koforidua.
“When would you like to start work?”
“Sir, I would like to start today, but I would need to go and bring my things.”
“No problem. Take a taxi to my house, meet my sister, and let me know what you decide.”
Later that day, Kakraba and the three ladies met with some bank officials to conclude the sale of the three buildings at Adabraka.
They closed at five-thirty and, after rewarding the ladies for their hard work, Kakraba got home just after dark.
He was surprised to find Kuukuwa and Beesiwa sitting at the table enjoying supper.
“What’s happening here?” he asked. “Beesiwa, I thought you would return to Koforidua.”
“She changed her mind,” Kuukuwa said. “We went to the mall and bought a few things for her. Then we came back to cook. She has made some nice changes to your bedroom and cooked a couple of interesting dishes. Sit down; we will serve you.”
“Well, I certainly can’t refuse that. It’s been a busy day.
“So, what’s the plan now? Will Beesiwa go to Koforidua tomorrow, gather her things together and come down?”
“No, I will stay here for a while,” Beesiwa replied. “Kuukuwa bought me the things I need, so I may go back next week. I’m ready to start work. What would you like me to start with?”
“Well, you can come to the office tomorrow morning, meet the three girls and get a feel for what we do.
“Since you are living here, at least for now, we can discuss the plans for the next few weeks.
“Sometimes there are gaps when I travel up north. You can take care of things from now. I think the girls would like having someone like you around.”
By Ekow de Heer
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A frequent question following breast surgery is whether human tissue possesses the regenerative capacity to restore an excised organ.
From a strict physiological standpoint, a completely removed breast cannot regrow. Unlike certain organisms that can regenerate complex limbs or organs, adult human tissues—particularly specialised glandular structures—lack the cellular machinery required to rebuild an entire organ after its total surgical removal.
Instead, the body heals the surgical site through processes such as scar tissue formation and re-epithelialisation rather than complete cellular regeneration.
What a mastectomy actually removes
To understand why natural tissue regeneration does not occur, it is important to examine the surgical scope of a mastectomy.
Depending on the type of procedure and the medical reason for surgery, a mastectomy may involve the removal of:
Glandular architecture: The milk-producing lobules and ducts that form the functional core of the mammary gland.
Adipose tissue: The fatty tissue that contributes to breast volume, projection and contour.
Other breast tissue: The extent of tissue removal varies according to the type of mastectomy and the need to achieve appropriate surgical clearance.
Because specialised breast structures are physically removed, the body does not rebuild a complete mammary gland. Instead, healing occurs through tissue repair and scar formation.
Distinguishing residual tissue from “regrowth”
Patients or observers may notice changes in the chest area after surgery, sometimes leading to misconceptions about tissue regeneration.
Skin- and nipple-sparing procedures
Modern breast surgery may preserve the outer skin envelope or, in selected cases, the nipple-areola complex. Small amounts of breast tissue may remain depending on the surgical technique. Any changes in remaining tissue due to hormonal fluctuations represent residual tissue responding to the body, rather than the regrowth of a completely removed breast.
Adipose accumulation
Weight gain after surgery can increase the amount of subcutaneous fat across the chest wall. However, this is part of general body fat distribution and does not represent the regeneration of a mammary gland.
Modern reconstructive pathways
Because a completely removed breast does not naturally regenerate, modern medicine offers reconstructive options aimed at restoring physical symmetry, contour and body image.
The two main approaches are implant-based reconstruction and autologous, or tissue-based, reconstruction.
Implant-based reconstruction
Implant-based reconstruction uses synthetic medical devices, typically filled with silicone gel or saline, to rebuild the breast mound following a mastectomy.
The two-stage process: This approach may begin with the placement of a temporary tissue expander to gradually create space and stretch the surrounding tissues. A later procedure may then be performed to place a permanent implant.
Recovery profile: Implant-based reconstruction generally involves a shorter initial surgery and recovery period compared with procedures that require tissue to be harvested from another part of the body.
Long-term considerations: Breast implants are not lifetime devices and require ongoing medical monitoring. Some patients may need additional procedures over time because of complications or changes in the implant or surrounding tissue.
Autologous or tissue-based reconstruction
Autologous reconstruction uses the patient’s own living tissue to create a new breast mound. Tissue may be transferred from another part of the body, commonly the lower abdomen, using procedures such as a DIEP flap.
Natural look and feel: Because the reconstruction uses living tissue, it can provide a natural warmth, texture and softness. The tissue may also change with the patient’s body weight over time.
Long-term durability: Once healing is complete, autologous reconstruction can provide a long-lasting result without the need to replace an implant. However, some patients may still require further procedures.
Complex surgery: This option usually involves a longer operation and recovery period. In microsurgical procedures, surgeons may need to reconnect tiny blood vessels to establish blood flow to the transferred tissue.
Direct comparison
When choosing between these two reconstructive pathways, patients and their surgical teams must consider several physical, medical and lifestyle factors.
Surgical burden: Implant surgery is generally less invasive, while flap reconstruction involves surgery at both the chest and the donor site.
Foreign material versus native tissue: Implants involve the use of a medical device, while autologous reconstruction uses the patient’s own tissue.
Recovery: The recovery timelines and rehabilitation requirements differ significantly between the two procedures.
Recovery and physical rehabilitation
Recovering from breast reconstruction requires patience, careful pacing and, in some cases, structured physical rehabilitation.
Because implant-based and autologous tissue-flap procedures involve different surgical techniques, their healing timelines and physical therapy milestones can vary considerably.
Understanding these differences is important for patients considering reconstruction, as the choice involves more than restoring physical appearance. It also requires careful consideration of recovery, long-term monitoring, lifestyle and individual medical needs.
Part 2 will examine recovery timelines, physical therapy milestones and other factors patients should consider when choosing between reconstructive options.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
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