Our attitude is haunting us....(2)

It is very amusing to hear leaders and officials of government and organisations in the country boldly declaring the fact that Ghana will develop (attain a middle income status) amid the lethal political sentiments and extremism. Keeping a wary eye on recent happenings regarding indecent partisan politics in the country, it is utterly right to stress the fact that development would continue to be a derisive mirage. Indeed, where is the effort to cause development? The present poor state of the economy is the fruit of the attitude Ghanaians especially some politicians exhibit. Politics have overshadowed the glittering importance of socio-economic issues that can soothe the enormous danger posed by chronic poverty. Where does Ghana want to go? Want to be an African Gorilla (just like the Asian Tigers)? With these attitudes of leaders and all Ghanaians then it is ostensibly impossible.

Ominous Politics

There is absolutely no cause for alarm when Ghana continues to be enthralled by the alarming trend of underdevelopment and that chronic poverty still ensnares the livelihoods of the majority people. The strings of underdevelopment largely stretch from the political sector to the socio-economic sector with no sign of redemption. Present situations stress the fact that Ghana has nowhere to go; the economy is at a standstill and is bound to grow worse than ever. Purportedly, all activities in the country connote the truth that Ghana would continue to wallow greatly in the realms of underdevelopment. Besides, the dirty politics being experience is certainly the strict adherence to the long established atmosphere of chronic poverty. The upwelling concerns regarding political clashes clearly give the indication that a seed of political animosity has been sown by our own so-called patriotic politicians. One is always right to be scared of the rate at which political extremism (dirty politics) is gaining unenviable foothold in governance; there is ominous atmosphere in Ghana now.

It is absurd to realise that the seed of this destructive tool is sown by some politicians who preach messages of enmity and divisiveness to the electorates all for the sake of winning an election. Why then should Ghanaians be surprised that foot soldiers and stalwarts of the ruling government dangerously indulge in illegal activities that they perceive would earn them a living especially when they feel rejected by their leaders at the helms of affairs of the country who vainly promised them of gainful employment? The attitude of politicians is also evidenced in the spate of cases of threatened workers of state institutions and seizures of public offices and shamefully toilet facilities. From the incidence that happened in Tamale when suspected NDC thugs seized the National Health Insurance Scheme and National Youth Employment Programme offices to similar situations in Asuogyaman, Eastern Region, Cape Coast and Ashaiman should raise a serious concern before matters become inexorable. These are, indeed, an outstanding politics that is bound to plunge the country into further disasters. Apart from the fact that contemporary politics has instilled the spirit of laziness into the so-called foot soldiers who expect to receive help from party leaders without necessarily working there is a state of lawlessness in the country with highly rated democratic credentials. It is now ‘Taliban Boys’ raiding the precious lives of innocent souls (productive human resources) in an absolutely needless barbaric attack possibly because of politics.

What is the fate of the country that cannot even conduct a re-run election devoid of violence in 6 polling stations? What happened in Akwatia sends the clear indication that peace in the country is highly fragile and can give in easily to chaos and conflict. The same situation happened in the 2008 General Election but was given a cover up. These are the situations that cause one to scoff at the notion that Ghana will be a better country.

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The lost focus on development

It is very unfortunate how politicians describe development. Following the demonstration organised by Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) on account of the harsh economic conditions ravaging the livelihoods of the majority people despite the 'Better Ghana' promised by the Mills Administration, Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwah, the Deputy Minister of Information questioned the basis for the demonstration saying that government had succeeded in putting the economy on a sound footing. He stressed that the country's currency has stabilised, improved GDP, stable inter-bank and depreciation rate. However, this is very unfortunate for politicians (who know the right thing) to regard development (made more perfect by the United Nations as Human Development) in this manner. It is worth noting that the concern expressed in a statement known as the Cocoyoc Declaration, which was adopted by participants at seminar organised by the United Nations Council on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Cocoyoc, Mexico in 1974 stated categorically clear that "Development is conceived as a state of the human wellbeing rather than as the state of the national economy". According to the Declaration

“Our first concern is to redefine the whole purpose of development. This should not be to develop things but to develop man. Human beings have basic needs: food, shelter, clothing, health, education. Any process of growth that does not lead to their fulfillment-or, even worse disrupts them- is a travesty of the idea of development” (Cocoyoc Declaration, quoted in Ghai, 1997, p.6 cited in 'Development Planning for Third World Countries' by Peter Hills and Diana Conyers)

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An improved economy (sound economic footing) is not justified in any way by improved GDP or stabilised currency but the major improvement in the wellbeing of the ordinary Ghanaian still reeling under the harsh economic conditions. Development is man-centered and not economy-centered which serves to benefit the few rich neglecting the dire needs and plights of the ordinary poor. Politicians should put across the reality of issues that would help alleviate poverty and not be blinded by contemporary indecent partisan politics. In no uncertain terms, governance devoid of candor and full of lies and deceit has rendered Ghana's development apparently far, if not impossible. Shortage of premix fuel for the fishermen and petrol in the country, high cost of education and general hardships are rife in the country and still politicians are telling the ordinary Ghanaian that the economy is on sound footing. It is about time these political languages that does not result in livelihood empowerment of the poor were brushed aside for human (man-centered) development to take the center-stage.

What is even making matters worse is the recent poor role by the media in carrying out development issues. Politicians have flooded TV morning shows instead of development strategists and experts. Where the strategists and experts are available, most of them read pertinent issues using the lenses of partisan politics; may be to get government appointments. The government should change the policy of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation where GTV provides the podium for various political party representatives; it should rather be non-partisan development experts and strategists. Politicians speak of in favour of their party without regarding the reality of issues. So, are these the attitudes that worth accelerated growth? Certainly not.

Conclusion

These are the contemporary issues that have rendered the economy comparatively static and for that matter has seen no significant improvement. The astronomical increase in indecent partisan politics in Ghana has exacerbated the conditions of the already ailing economy. Majority of the people are still strongly hooked on the tentacles of chronic poverty so the strategy to clamp down on this dilemma should receive the limelight of the media and the government. It is our attitude that has copiously asserted unsavoury reputation to the economy. We ought to change our attitude if the country is to experience the myriads of benefits of accelerated growth.

The author Stephen Yeboah is at the Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi- Ghana.

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