Mr. George Akom, an Educationist and Governance Analyst has enumerated that Ghana’s problems have been multi-faceted and dated back from the past. He continued that the problems have been deep-rooted; firmly embedded in thought, behaviour, and culture which persistently influenced social-economic wellbeing of the citizens.
He stressed that the current situation of the economy has made the economic situation of many African countries much exposed to show that the fiscal and economic policies have not been dynamic and adaptable to meet any unforeseeable economic turmoil.
The recent global economic crisis has received several mixed reactions from many citizens across the world as pertained to their respective countries.
Some of the reactions have been demonstrations, change of government officials and several negative reactions towards many governments.
The period of COVID -19 and the geo-political war between Russia and Ukraine have brought about 93 countries embarking on demonstrations and riots.
Ghana as a country has not been spared with these reactions resulting in demonstrations, public outcry and criticisms against the government.
Many Ghanaians are also attributing the economic crisis with its hardship to COVID -19 and the Russia – Ukraine war, whiles others hold contrary views and seeing the problem to be the mismanagement of the economy as the main causes for these economic woes of the country.
It has emerged from a recent research publication conducted by the United Kingdom (UK) based Research and Assessment UK Ltd to indicate that 52.2% Ghanaians believed COVID -19 and Russia- Ukraine conflict have affected the Ghanaian economy. The research went on further to indicate that majority of Ghanaians believed the economic challenges facing the country have been caused by the COVID -19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Mr. Akom intimated that despite these recent admission of the twin economic misfortunes by COVID -19 and the Russia -Ukraine war as the main causes of the economic crisis, he was of the opinion that the problems have been deep- rooted from the time of independence and the symptoms are now being felt with devastating effect on all the citizens. He stressed that when the economy becomes stable, most of the symptoms go hidden and many feel that things are normal as if there are no major problems in the country. He equated the problems of Ghana to sickness, where a sick person would show no signs or symptoms, but the patient feels pains inside and does not get medication for treatment until the sickness gets worse. He therefore described Ghana’s economy as asymptomatic at stable economic times and becomes more symptomatic when there are global economic crises. Mr. Akom emphasized that the problems of the nation have been in existence for many years from the past and present with similar and recurring situations. He enumerated some of the problems as cultural, social, economic and political which create unemployment, high exchange rate, high inflation, high fuel prices, high utility tariffs, insecurity, high importation of goods and services, excessive borrowing, high government expenditure, corruption, lack of patriotism, behavioural and attitudinal effects among others. He addressed that many citizens were aware of these problems as the major causes of the poor social- economic conditions of the country, but addressing them from national perspective has still not been possible. It has been very surprising to be able to identify a problem but not able to solve them. He iterated that, certain conditions demanded different approach which required collective action and support from citizens. He remarked that doing something over and over and expecting a different result is not the best approach. He added that solving a problem with the same mindset that created it would not bring any solution. Confucius said, “when it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps”, Mr. Akom quizzed. He re-echoed that, although the current economic situation has exposed Ghana with its fundamental fiscal and economic policies, it is this time that we must learn a greater lesson from it to change from our old ways of doing things. He related the economic situation to illiteracy by referring to what Alvin Toffler said relative to learning that, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn”. Buttressing up the point, he pointed out that since majority of the citizens have come to the realization of the problems of the country and some of the things we have not done right from the past, it is imperative upon all to join forces to fight the problems together for the benefit of all.
“Now that many citizens are aware of the problems and their causes, then the solutions are in our own hands. Mere mentioning of the problems and their effect on citizens without taking a shared responsibility to address them would not yield any results to avoid for future re-occurrences”, Mr. Akom bemoaned.
Mr. George Akom who is a Senior Assistant Registrar opined that talking, lambasting and blaming ourselves including past and present governments without been part of the solutions as citizens would always put the country in experiment situation. He was of the hope that the country could develop when nationalistic development framework is put in place with the full backing by all citizens rather than relying on political party manifestos which always come with populace strategy to the detriment of creating development opportunities for all the citizens.
