POLITICS IN MATURED SOCIETY LIKE GHANA
I have observed lots of political and social discourses here in our country for few years and wish to outline my thoughts.
Having consumed some of these discussions on radio, in the dailies, on social media platforms and televisions, I hardly hear suggested solutions to the issues that affect us negatively or positively. Most of the times, it's about the New Patriotic Party's (NPP's) or the National Democratic Congress' (NDC's) inability to solve this country's numerous problems.
Of course, they determine how our lives should look like in the current dispensation, with their political interests. However, we need to demonstrate to them that they can no more take us for a ride in our current maturational stage.
Moreover, it will be of best interest, to scrutinize every public or social policy the sitting government plans to implement and ask relevant and critical questions; what to implement? why the policy and why is it necessary? from which source is it to be funded? etc, and probably the citizens provision of intellectual and material assistance to implement the policy smoothly, where necessary.(like the "Free SHS", Health Insurance, YEA, National Youth Policy, August 2010, etc)
We should also get close eyes on even answers provided to our numerous questions. That means they must provide us with the capital injection so that we can monitor how much is going where? how much has been spent with time? are we achieving the goal; so we should continue or terminate the contract and even hold officials accountable to their necks, for ignoring due diligence but implementing maybe, wrongly.
When we do this with time, there will be considerable change in how they will do their things, because the citizenry will hold them accountable, if they messed up.
When we do this with time, there will be considerable change in how they will do their things, because the citizenry will hold them accountable, if they messed up.
I hear a probable fuel hike before close of the week. Do we think this is going to stop? A big 'NO'. Politicians will not stop the "blame game" that the opposition seem to care about the ordinary Ghanaian, at a given period. The attitude changes when in power.
Let us accept, in the first place that with the current system the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) run with the Automatic Adjustment Formula, will not in any way, favour us sooner than later. To me, not even in future because, it is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that control crude oil prices and our politicians are not ready to host the burden. So then, let us forget about this or that party has disappointed us with its words, when in opposition. You may recall the former administration taxed us with its "Petroleum Levy", with the argument that the country owed and needed to clear that petroleum debt but it did not remove it even at the time the debt had been cleared, and still running under this administration, which is almost two years in office.
Let us accept, in the first place that with the current system the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) run with the Automatic Adjustment Formula, will not in any way, favour us sooner than later. To me, not even in future because, it is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that control crude oil prices and our politicians are not ready to host the burden. So then, let us forget about this or that party has disappointed us with its words, when in opposition. You may recall the former administration taxed us with its "Petroleum Levy", with the argument that the country owed and needed to clear that petroleum debt but it did not remove it even at the time the debt had been cleared, and still running under this administration, which is almost two years in office.
The Dollar is on ascendancy.
Some two days ago, the Minister designate for the Information Ministry, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, explained, referring to administrative measures by the United State of America government's decision to increase interest rate, which according to him, has increased local withdrawals in Dollars by Ghanaian nationals back to the USA. He also continued that local currencies across the globe is facing same situations, citing “Argentina falling by 50.23 per cent, Turkey by 42.3%, South Africa by 19.24%, India by 11.27% , the British Pound by 4.29% and the Euro almost 4%”, meaning the Cedi has performed relatively well by reducing at 7% to the dollar.
Dr. Mahamoudou Bawumiah has also tried to give some instances on the situation but Ghanaian traders have not taken it lightly with him at all.
Some two days ago, the Minister designate for the Information Ministry, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, explained, referring to administrative measures by the United State of America government's decision to increase interest rate, which according to him, has increased local withdrawals in Dollars by Ghanaian nationals back to the USA. He also continued that local currencies across the globe is facing same situations, citing “Argentina falling by 50.23 per cent, Turkey by 42.3%, South Africa by 19.24%, India by 11.27% , the British Pound by 4.29% and the Euro almost 4%”, meaning the Cedi has performed relatively well by reducing at 7% to the dollar.
Dr. Mahamoudou Bawumiah has also tried to give some instances on the situation but Ghanaian traders have not taken it lightly with him at all.
We ought to provide solutions to through positive critique, than to wade into cheap politicking and complains. Moreover, we need to join the campaign of producing what we eat than the excessive imports. We need to speak against trade and business transactions in dollars locally, to avert the situation.
We need to demonstrate maturity in democratic dispensation through politics than what we see now.
Source: The Future Projects
By: Nyarko Abronomaa Walker
By: Nyarko Abronomaa Walker
