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It is time for hard talk and not childish prattle

In many democracies, embarrassing political pratfalls of government rally the opposition together and amuse many, especially those who find life harassing.  Right now the times are not easy; more difficult times loom ahead. Therefore as the government lifts up its backside we should refrain from pointless exchanges, even if amusing, and confront the real issues at stake.

The administration boxed itself into a corner in its dispute with the TUC.  Fortunately, good sense prevailed and we have been spared a strike which might have led to serious economic and social upheaval.  Having escaped from this dangerous situation, we should chart the future to achieve that better Ghana we all desire. 

Corruption and rumours of corruption prevail; judgement debts plague us and administrative ineptitude abounds.  Public institutions creak and life is one long battle and much annoyance.  But no outsiders can put things right;  Ghanaians must make life liveable.

It is easy to discuss and debate the nagging problems and descend into trivialities while the main issues are glossed over.  The times call for hard talk and not childish scoring of debating points.  We should confront the habit of the Ghanaian to avoid embarrassing situations.

Traditionally, we like cases to be settled “amicably”.  We do not like identifying the guilty and imposing the appropriate punishment.  Thus the rapist appeases the family of the 14-year-old girl and the police are persuaded to drop any charges.  But that kind of ‘peace’ undermines the social order and is destroying our society.  Laws, rules and regulations should be enforced.  Discipline should be maintained.  Administrative and social sanctions should be applied where the judicial processes cannot readily provide the appropriate punishment.  These are the issues which we should discuss.  We should be engaged in hard talk and hard thinking.

The economy is another issue we should discuss most seriously.  What is the role of the government? Is it to provide an alibi by establishing an independent body to determine charges of utility services established by the State with the people’s money? Or is it to determine these prices suggested by PURC after surveying their impact on production, exports and the life of the people?

And what is the role of government in economic development? Here again is it to provide an alibi by declaring the private sector as the engine of growth? What is the private sector and what are its aims? Is it to develop the country or make profit? Of course as it makes profit it develops and grows the economy.  But can the private sector flourish and help economic growth in present circumstances? Can the new cashew industry in Brong Ahafo, for example, develop and flourish without the appropriate infrastructure such as roads and services?

In a developing country like Ghana is today (let us be bold and truthful and call it backward), the government should surely consider itself as the main instrument for social and economic development.  It should plan what resources can be exploited in various parts of the country and how production can be maximised, distributed, consumed and exported.

It should decide on priorities based on the country’s needs and requirements such as employment which is contained not by studies but by well-considered and executed projects which fuel the economy and social progress. 

To do this requires thinking, assessment and planning.  There is nothing socialist about planning private business plans.  Let us engage in hard talk about a national economic plan. 

It is necessary to determine what infrastructure are necessary for the projects we select.  It is then that we can expect private enterprise to be really interested and help economic growth while it pursues profits. 

If the infrastructure is bad and public institutions do not operate, private enterprise will not have enough energy to survive, let alone be an engine of growth.  Incidentally, there are Ghanaians with capital to invest in areas other than building. 

Many Ghanaian investors do not invest in Ghana because of political favouritism and naked suppression of “opposition” enterprises.  Ghanaians put their money in treasury bills because the returns are good and are not affected by the political colour of the investor. 

We should abandon the inferiority posture of wooing only foreign investors.  It is pathetic to read almost daily about so-called foreign investors who troop to the corridors of power and say how glad they are to help develop the beautiful country, Ghana!

The government is responsible for development and should not hesitate to establish institutions or companies to engage in business or projects.  The notion that government enterprises do not work is false. 

There are many government enterprises which work elsewhere and even in Ghana.  They often fail in Ghana because of bad government directives and directors who think only of allowances and perks. 

If an official ignorant in business matters like me can help establish and manage Ghana Airways Airtours and make substantial profits, then there are hundreds of Ghanaians who can manage government companies.  The right people should be approached and given the appropriate free hand.   Ghana Airways collapsed because of greed, indiscipline and banal government interference and not because government companies naturally fail.

Many may disagree with me on the role of government in the economy and that of private enterprise.  These are the issues to debate.  They require hard talk.  They demand hard thinking.  But that is the only path to progress.  Pointless prattle will amuse but do no more than end in political pratfalls of a succession of governments and the disillusionment of Ghanaians.  We deserve better.

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