It is difficult to give one term to describe the current condition of the country. Ghana has her own share of issues, with some inherited from successive governments. On assumption of office in 2017, President Akufo-Addo in his first term promised to make Ghana a better place. Indeed, Vice President Bawumia had prior to this time delivered solid convincing promises and strategies on how to transform Ghana to a Dubai in Africa.
However, it has been 6 years and Ghana is tumbling. This is not to say, the Akufo-Addo government haven’t had their good days. Indeed, they have enjoyed days like that. On the contrary though, the country currently is near messed up. On May 2, 2022, former President John Mahama delivered a lecture titled, Ghana at a Crossroad or Ghana at Crossroads.
John Mahama bemoaned the plight of the country. He provided some 13 strong points to build the country back like reshuffling, cutting of the size of ministers and slashing salaries. He also mentioned a pause on borrowing, sacking of the Vice President Finance Minister, assembling and dialogue with experts on the economy along other policies. Some of the strategies might have been difficult to take but there were others that could have been activated.
The current government however failed to take heed. The next few days saw government communicators say that John Mahama is rather confused and at a crossroad in his life. Indeed, Miracles Aboagye, a presidential staffer in charge of local government and decentralization on TV3’s New Day show noted that John needed help because his life was at crossroads and not Ghana.
What do we see now? The year has seen some torrential rains with blames being apportioned to government. School feeding issues are surging with many advocates calling an end to some portions of the programme. The economy is near bankrupt and though government agents say this is due to Covid and the war in Ukraine, it is also clear that Ghana received so much in funding to fight Covid. A whopping sum of $2.4 billion was received.
Ghana has had to run to the IMF for bailout to resuscitate the economy. This isn’t the end. Labor unions have also started a war on government. Four pre-tertiary teacher unions embarked on a strike last week. This has deprived over 7.2 children access to learn. The Ghana Medical Associations and Public Services Workers Union, Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwifery Association have all threatened strikes over cost of living allowances.
Last week, the Auditor General’s report showed that wastage and unaccounted monies had risen from 2021’s 12.8 billion cedis to over 17 billion cedis. This is coupled with a series of demonstrations in the country.
What better word then best fits than ‘Crossroads’. The problems are turning from politically motivated issues to nationwide problems. Did John Mahama see this coming or he was just playing the political rival card? Has John Mahama been vindicated? Is Ghana at a crossroad?
Content created and supplied by: Still_Unbeatable (via Opera
News )