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Unfavourable global economic outlook
President Akuffo-Addo discussing the globsl economic situation with IMF boss Kristalina Georgieva with IMF boss
The world today faces a daunting economic challenge that is threatening the welfare of its citizens in different parts of the globe, irrespective of whether they find themselves in developing or developed countries.
It is, therefore, difficult for all countries to manage their resources in the way they had envisaged prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19. This unfortunate situation implies that everyone on this earth will have to collaborate with their respective governments to work hard towards finding appropriate solutions to the difficulties or challenges they are facing.
NEGATIVE POLITICS
This development is very unfortunate, but it goes to show that negative politics such as found in developing countries like Ghana must be done away with if we are to survive in these turbulent times that call for unity, togetherness, purposefulness, and a desire to achieve our national goal and development.
The purpose of politics in every country is to influence voters to vote for people who wish to come to power. Not every political group can be voted into power. For this reason, lies are often heard from certain politicians who see winning political power as a do-or-die affair.
DISCERNING ELECTORATE
This is why the electorate, particularly those in developing countries like Ghana, must be very careful about some of the messages given to them by political opponents who wish to come to power.
It is not wrong for any political party to fight and come to power. However, this should not be based on atrocious lies. Such are negative and should be pushed aside by all progressive and decent-minded people and observers.
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
Even developed countries like the UK, Canada, Japan, Germany, are all suffering from the global economic problem, which has been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.
The UK Daily Mail of January 25, 2023, reported that there was no need to despair because the economic situation is global. UK citizens have, therefore, been urged to support the government in these difficult times rather than run down the country. This piece of advice should go to all countries, not just the UK. It is hoped that politicians in Ghana, especially the Minority, are listening to this advice.
The debt of the UK to its Gross Domestic Product in 2022 moved from 87 per cent to its current 99.5 per cent. The world, not only Ghana, is therefore facing serious economic crises.
HARSH ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
The harsh economic conditions affect all countries. In spite of this, less noise is heard in the UK, Canada, the US, Germany, and other countries, even though they are all suffering. There is no cheap politics going on in such countries; these countries are rather fighting hard to restore economic normalcy in their areas.
The world, no doubt, is facing serious challenges that must be overcome, whether we like it or not. This is the plain truth, and we need to receive it as such.
MULTIPLE CRISES
According to one UN report, multiple crises are being unleashed on the world. The world today is experiencing its lowest economic output in recent decades.
In fact, the global growth forecast will slow down to 1.9 per cent in 2023, according to UN economists.
NEGATIVE TENDENCIES
If this is the case, then what does the Minority in Ghana seek to achieve by what they attempt to do?
The economy should be on their agenda, but the negative tendencies they seek to mount are all false because Ghana is part of the global economic system.
There is no doubt that the global economy will face serious difficulties this year. As we speak, the U.S. and Japan have their debts mounting, and this is seriously affecting their economic growth. What is saving these countries is that they are all strong manufacturers of products that are exported to other parts of the world.
INDUSTRIALISATION DRIVE
For this reason, Ghana must also learn from this and embark on a serious industrialisation drive. This is what the country needs. The effort by the government, therefore, to promote One District, One Factory (1D1F) needs the support of all Ghanaians.
The global economic outlook may be less severe if countries work hard to confront the challenges ahead. This is why the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that, in spite of the challenges, the global outlook may be slightly better than what is expected.
Email address/whatsApp number of the 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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