Anatomy of governance and fairness in Ghana

Monitoring events through Ghana's business, labour, and prosecutorial conduit present some challenges that must be addressed sooner than later.

First, it was the announcement that a former COCOBOD Chief, and a businessman, will be put on trial for their role in the misuse of state money.

Then in Tarkwa, the South African owned Goldfields, which the government of Ghana has a share, was able to mobilize 200 men from the Army and Police to impress upon over 1,500 workers to sign retrenchment letters. In a demonstration that followed, some workers were injured, and multiple gunshots were fired. The workers were crying wolf, unfair labour practices, and suppression of employee agitation for fairness.

In another instance, some members and leaders of Ghana Union of Traders occupied our airwaves to express shock about high import duties on electrical and other goods, which are gradually crippling commercial activities in the country.

To put the icing on this rather disturbing trend was the accusation by Kennedy Agyepong, a member of Ghana's parliament, that Traboulsi Marwan, an operator of a Cargo Hub near Kotoko International Airport in Accra, is abusing terms of the Airport cargo contract because he is shielded by ex-president Rawlings and his wife. That was a "wild goose chase".

I find Agyepong's assertion preposterous, an example of how "a dog barks when there is no thief in the house". To inject political cronyism into the management of a cargo village which is perfectly and professionally handled by Marwan represents one of the falsehoods which loyal parties members of the ruling government should strongly condemn. I have known the workings of Ghana's Cargo village, which started as AFGO, since 1995.

No individual can carry the burden of a political party or government. And this unnecessary circumvention must stop.

Agyepong was quoted once again to have accused Ghana's narcotic drugs control agency of using timid and tired sniffer dogs to search cars belonging to a brother of Ghana's ex-president, John Dramani Mahama. This is a highly sensitive issue which should not have been given national attention because of security implications, but it did, allegations which were later debunked by the drugs control agency.

In delving into all these matters of national concern, the guiding principle is that the critical elements within our nationwide efforts should not be dehumanized through the pursuit of an irrational assessment of our national discourse.

If the government promised to ensure private sector development, the establishment of a level playing field must be pursued through interventions that are supportive of national economic growth. Obstacles to growth are what Ghana's traders are calling on government to reverse. And it is legitimate.

On the labour front, government must also act swiftly to avert some of these senseless clashes which could have been resolved through dialogue.Virtue cannot reward itself unless fairness subsists in it. And though a careful allocation of fairness to the citizenry may not produce immediate results, it can definitely shape public opinion and ensure peace.

Periodically, we need to critically examine governance perspectives with the view to ensuring collective acquisition of the benefits of distinguished antecedents.

This means we cannot afford to live with tautological reputations and insensitivity. The world is watching us, and the government must act swiftly in the interest of all.

A stitch in time...............