Managing The New Ghana

I will take the heat on this by saying it: No politician residing in Ghana now has a clue as to how to put Ghana to a good economic position. Ghana must now be run by a person who can REALLY GET THE JOB DONE. What I mean by this is that, we should try all that we can to elect somebody we know can get the job ( of administering the country ) done. A lot has been said about the economic situation in Ghana. The present administration has done it best. As most of us know, the country was put in disarray by the P(NDC), having spent 19 years in office and doing whatever it like. At least I congratulate the current administration for keeping the democratic process going forward. The job of keeping the democratic institution going forward is not an easy task in Africa and I congratulate the present government for that. But right now Ghana need some physical changes, the population in the cites are increasing, a lot of environmental degradation going on, we need to build infra-structure. Just recently I wrote an article which was publish on the Ghanaweb, there were some nay sayers I understand that but there were very positive responses too. I had a private e-mail from a friend and this is precisely what he wrote to me:

I am so much in agreement with your opinion (Ghanaweb) on Africa development. In the global world of disparites, the only way a society can develop drastically, is to have big population, big market and conducive secured atmosphere that will attract large investors (China). The only way the whole of Africa can develop on a fast track is attract companies and big investors thereby promoting sustainable growth in our society. We cannot base our hope on charities from the western world because it is not sustainable rather a one time gift. If I am the CEO of Microsoft, we will not put any major investment in Africa because sub-Saharan Africa is divided into small countries so every investor has to package their products and services differently in each country and no global company is willing to deal with such a headache. And no global investor will be willing to invest in only one of the small countries in Africa because from their perspective the market share is too small and insignificant. The only way these corporations will be attracted to Africa is if there is a large secured lucrative market. The only way we can provide such market for these large investors is to have one currency and border less continent where goods and services can be transported easily. ..................... Africa coming together economically will give us powerful bargaining power to force the western world to treat us fairly. Just imagine if the whole Africa agree not to send their oil to the united states unless they remove all the tariffs on farm produce and stop subsidizing US farm produce so that Africa farmers can also compete. That is why Europeans have formed the EU. ........... Yes in this global world, I believe that the only way Africa as a whole can develop drastically is to form some sort of federation of Africa with a strong active central government that will ensure secured border less one currency continent at least in the sub-Saharan Africa. At this juncture, let me quote from WOLEIATSE, a registered Ghanaweb user “

the basic arguments of the pan-African forefathers are still very valid. Without effective integration on the economic level, backed by an appropriate political framework, there is little chance that Africa as a continent, or most individual Africa countries, can make it into the industrial age in any significant manner. This is largely because of the smallness of our individual markets, resulting in the lack of economies of scale, unevenly divided national resources, lack of infra-structural development and adequate infra-structural linkages among the various national units of Africa, very weak bargaining positions as individual nations in international economic relations, and the inherent weaknesses of the inherited colonial economies.” I know all this is bla, bla, bla. But I think there is a lot we can learn from. We have to vote for a leader who will start putting such ideas in place. How do we solve the problem? We solve this problem by electing to power somebody we know can get the job done. In my view somebody like Arthur Kennedy if NPP can see through and nominate him, can win the 2008 presidential election and get things started for us. I do not personally know him but he is bold to confront situations as we all know, very knowledgeable both in world affairs and at home in Ghana. He has the vision. If Ghanaians need real change, then vote for Arthur Kennedy. If you vote for any other person within the old folks be it NPP or NDC, trust me, you will be getting the same thing you already have now. What are our immediate needs as Ghanaians: (1) Reduce significantly the number of ministries to say 9(nine) and there should be no deputy ministers. The Assistants to the ministers can deputies for them. Also reduce the number of ambassadors and High commissioners. Ghana is too small a country to have an ambassador in every country. (2) Concentrate power solely in the districts and the large cities. Our cities are environmentally degrading.(3) Concentrate on building infra-structure such as highways, railroads and overhead bridges. If an investor wants to invest, he/she looks at certain structures. (4) Very good administration of the law (the Police and Courts). Police must be trained and paid well. Corruption, corruption, corruption must be highly checked. (5) Common currency within the west Africa sub-region This is long overdue. (6) Setup some form of bond market financial system so that the diasporans can put money into it as a form of investment to help the country get the needed money for projects (About $1.5 billion remittance came from individuals in 2005). This must be properly managed though. The diasporans alone, can provide foreign aid to Ghana. Folks we need to do something. Ghanaian should not solely rely on traveling abroad in order to make it. The road is now being blocked. The EU is increasing it efforts to curb illegal entry of African migrants (A wall street Journal report). Look at what is happening with USA immigration. Folks, our people have nowhere to go again and it is now time to develop our own Ghana (Our mother land). Ghana as it stands now cannot by itself generate the necessary capital to finance it projects ( We can put a stop to the begging). Don’t you think the diasporans can do this for Ghana instead of Ghana going out to borrow from the world bank with all it condition?

Folks, this can be done. We only need to get the right man in the castle. Do not lose hope. I think help is on the way. The current politicians have no clue how to move the country forward. How can Ghanaians elect somebody in the old NPP or NDC after President Kuffour? We will be getting the same thing. We really need a change and the change is now.

Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.