UNDERSTANDING AND ADDRESSING GHANA'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS: MY OPINION.

     

After a close analysis of Ghana's development woes, I believe I have identified some of the factors that have delayed  (and are still delaying)the country's economic development. This is not an exhaustive list of the problems, just the few I have identified. Hopefully the country will unite and contribute to eliminating these bottlenecks that are choking the Ghanaian economy.

 To begin, Ghana as a nation does not have a clearly outlined economic growth strategy. In fact, since the return to democratic rule in 1992, the country has not been able to agree on a comprehensive development strategy. Institutions charged with the design and proposal of growth strategies –like the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, and the Ministry of Local Government- have been filled with corrupt and incompetent cohorts and political supporters who do not necessarily have the needed skills, expertise and or commitment and dedication to draft feasible economic development policies. The result is that the nation runs on a “trial and error” basis, continuously experimenting with a myriad of growth strategies without necessarily considering their feasibility, necessity or effectiveness. In essence, the inefficiencies of successive governments and state institutions have led to retarded political and economic growth.

Related to the above point is the issue of misplaced policymaking. Ghana’s return to democratic rule in 1992 coincided with the fall of communism. Consequently, the nation became a victim of the transfer of blueprints for economic growth developed by Western experts who did not necessarily understand or appreciate the dynamisms and specificities of Ghana’s development problems. Western concepts of economic liberalization were forced on Ghana even though the country’s ill equipped state bureaucracy had no idea how to make it work. Decades of military rule and bad governance had robbed the state bureaucracy of the little expertise it had accrued and yet it was forced to hastily implement economic policies which were not tailored to suit the country’s economic problems. Development partners like the World Bank and IMF and developed countries like the US and Britain made democratization and market liberalization a condition for aid and therefore forced the Rawlings government to hastily establish a semblance of democratic rule in order to court foreign aid.

As a result of the lack of effective institutions to produce feasible economic policies, Ghana’s economic development strategies are largely derived from the policy recommendations of donor partners like the World Trade Organization, the IMF and World Bank and from developed states like the US and Britain. A key problem of this measure is that it is a top-down approach and so economic policies are, simply, a transfer of policies from one context to Ghana without being necessarily tailored to address the specific development problems that the country faces. Rather than formulating its own growth strategies, Ghana relies on the recommendation of outside experts who may lack or simply ignore knowledge on the peculiarities of Ghana’s economic problems and this is reflects in the limited successes of growth strategies like the World Bank’s Structural Adjustment Program (SAP). In his analysis of economic growth in South Korea, Kholi (2004) notes the importance of an efficient state bureaucracy in the implementation of economic policies and the establishment of a cohesive capitalist state and how this can engender rapid economic growth. South Korea under Park Chung Hee was an undemocratic state with a state controlled command economy and yet the efficient bureaucratic structures established by the Japanese formed the basis for a cohesive capitalist state in which the role of the state and the private sector was effectively coordinated and harnessed to initiate rapid, sustainable economic growth. In the case of Ghana, these efficient bureaucratic structures have never been in place. The British colonial administration did not lay the foundations for an efficient bureaucracy largely because it had no need of it. Colonial policies were enforced through the traditional authority of chiefs and enforcement by the colonial police and as such no reliable bureaucratic structures were set up. Also, during the tumultuous period of 1966 to 1992, the little improvements made on the state bureaucracy were set back by the series of military juntas and bad governments that dominated the period.

Another reason for Ghana’s volatile economic growth is the lack of cohesion between the state apparatus and the private sector. It is no news that President Rawlings opposed democratic rule, he viewed it as elitist and opted for some kind of grassroots socialism founded on the support of Ghana’s proletariat class. This tension between the government and the perceived bourgeoisie capitalist class culminated in the lack of cohesion between the state and the private sector even after market liberalization took off. This lack of cohesion has made it difficult to coordinate the contributions of the state and public sectors to spur rapid development. As Kholi (2004) rightfully points out, cohesion between the state and the private sector is vital for economic growth. Unfortunately, Ghana lacks this cohesion; the ‘states mistrust of the private sector and vice versa has created a rift between the two sectors such that each sector regards the other as an opponent rather than a partner in development. There is a myriad of civil society organizations, interest and pressure groups etc which has created a fragmented-multi class state incapable of reconciling its differences and working together for the development of the country. The disconnection between the state and the private sector makes nonsense of the free market and liberalized trade policies that Ghana has put in place and renders these policies minimally successful in terms of economic benefits.

Please comment your opinions and contributions. Feel free to draw a comparison with other countries.

 

GHANA: THE POLITICAL MILESTONES AND THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS WITHIN

Since independence from Britain in 1957, Ghana has pursued a myriad of economic policies aimed at promoting development. Successive governments- both civilian and military- have experimented with various development strategies- from Nkrumah’s “Africanized” socialist policies to the more liberal strategies of present governments. However, 57 years on, Ghana still falls short of expectations for as far as rapid development is concerned. Scholars have given many reasons for the failure of states to achieve “appreciable” levels of development but the combined search for lasting solutions to underdevelopment and rapid economic growth still proves elusive. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the key factors accounting for Ghana’s slow and volatile economic growth specifically within the first 10 year period of its current democratic dispensation (1992-2012). By doing do, I hope to accomplish the first step in solving the country’s development problem- identifying the problem itself. I begin by dividing Ghana’s development into 2 categories- political development and economic growth.

I use the term “Political development” synonymously with “democracy”: the expansion of political rights and freedoms and the promotion of political participation, essentially, democratic governance. In this regard, Ghana is doing significantly better than many other developing nations. From the military juntas of the mid 1960s and early 1990s, Ghana has made steady efforts towards democratization. Since the restoration of democratic rule in 1992, Ghana has pursued and successfully sustained progressively democratic rule thanks to strict enforcement and funding from the international community and donor partners. Political rights have been expanded and elections have been progressively free and fair though not totally devoid of controversy. In 2008, Ghana attained Huntington’s two-turnover test, cementing its place as one of the few oases of peace on the troubled African continent. However, Ghana’s political gain is nothing but a façade for the rot and moral decadence that lies beneath. Bribery, corruption and ethnicism still pervade the society, social mobility is seldom based, solely, on merit and good governance, in its strict sense, is far from the norm. Political institutions are largely powerless in the face of the clientelism and rent-seeking reinforced by the traditional culture. At best, Ghana maintains democratic government but not democratic governance.

In terms of economic growth/development, the picture is far worse. The rot in political institutions has led to corresponding inefficiencies in economic institutions. From the implementation of the World Bank’s Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) to the ongoing US sponsored Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), an unreliable and inefficient bureaucratic framework has led to the misappropriation of funds and the poor implementation of economic growth strategies. Admittedly, Ghana has been experiencing significant levels of economic growth over the past decade, but the rate of growth remains far below expectation, especially given the country’s potential. I do not seek to discount Ghana’s economic successes; I simply seek to point out why the rate of economic growth has been so slow though not entirely absent. So what factor(s) account for Ghana’s slow economic growth rate? Is it African exceptionalism? Is it due to exploitation? For me, there is only one answer to this question; Ghana’s volatile economic growth rate is the result of inefficient and ineffective institutions which make it difficult to formulate and implement the strategies necessary to spur rapid economic growth.

MAKING POLICIES WORK : MY TAKE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INCACERATION.

       
         The maintenance of law and order is a basic function of government. In order to protect the lives, freedoms and property of individuals, governments enact and enforce laws aimed at ensuring stability and order in society. Failure to obey the laws of the state is often met with the legitimate force of the state manifested in the form arrest, prosecution, and, where applicable, imprisonment. A state which is able to enforce its laws and ensure compliance satisfies its duty to protect lives, freedoms and property but when the state becomes overly zealous and uses its legitimate force as an instrument of persecution; its legitimacy is called into question. The debate over the impact of mass incarceration on crime is hotly contested as proponents and opponents debate the efficacy of such policies. While some criminologists argue that mass incarceration deters crime, others argue that it results in little or no change in crime rates. 

Many major policy shifts in incarceration policy are aimed at deterring crime and engendering the feeling of safety among citizens. The tradeoff, however, is that an increasing number of citizens are being imprisoned or put under state monitoring programs. This has not only led to the loss of potential labor force, but has led to high administration costs and the erosion of the capabilities and economic opportunities of convicts.

The rise in jail sentences for victimless, non-violent crimes like petty theft, default on child support, petty drug possession and drunk driving have increased prison numbers exponentially without doing much to reform inmates and teach them to stay out of trouble upon release. According to the Bureau of Justice Studies, 2012 Report, between 1985 and 2010, the number of people imprisoned in federal facilities for drug related crimes rose from 41,000 to over 500,000. Within the same period, drug related charges accounted for more than half of all convictions.

Also, the privatization of the prison system has made it a business which thrives on high inmate numbers. The results is a hidden but evident rise in the demand for prison sentences and prisoners. The key justification for the high incarceration rates in the United States is the claim that it deters crime and keeps people safe by keeping lawbreakers away from the larger society.  Some criminologists even argue that it saves taxpayers a lot of money to conduct random sweeps and arrest suspected criminals en masse.  The reality, however, is that a huge chunk of America’s valuable labor force languishes in jail, mostly for drug related offenses and other non-violent crimes.

The failures of criminal policy are the combined effects of endogenous and exogenous factors which prevent the efficient and effective implementation of policies. The problem is not always with the policies themselves, but, more often than not, with how those policies are implemented. Even good policies, if wrongfully enforced or implemented could yield counterproductive results, likewise if they are biased or discriminatory. The efficient and effective implementation of policy directives require that 4 key criteria are met:

·        Adequate supply of resources/funds for the effective implementation of policies.

·        Efficient and effective personnel who understand and support the policy directive.

·        Fair, equal and even enforcement of policy directives devoid of all forms of discrimination, bias or oppression especially of minority groups.

·        General public acceptance of the legitimacy of policies and of the enforcement personnel.

Any institution that does not met all the above criteria risks being riddled with gross incompetence and abject failure. Sadly, the major law enforcement institution of the United States, The Police, is itself bedeviled with problems that prevent the attainment of such higher standards. Admittedly, some of these failures are not due to internal incompetence but are the result of mounting external influence and pressures mainly from politicians and lobby groups but also from the general public whose pressures for security sometimes overwhelm the police force and compel them to adopt more aggressive postures in crime combat.

Resolving the shortcomings of a country’s criminal policy requires a number of policy changes. First of all, the criminal policy itself should be made more reformative. Rather than imprisoning non-violent offenders with more hardened criminals, governments should focus on rehabilitating such offenders by providing then with alternative, employable skills to make then productive citizens.

Also, it is imperative for law enforcement agencies to enforce laws fairly and equally without any discrimination or biases. Perpetrating discriminatory practices against minority groups only serves to erode the legitimacy of the police and reduces the role of civilians in the crime combat process. By adopting fair, professional practices, the police can encourage civilians to assist with information on the activities of criminals and promote the role of citizens in promoting safer communities. It is worth mentioning that the activities of criminals keep getting more sophisticated, and law enforcement officers are compelled to devise more ingenious techniques for crime prevention and arrest of law breakers and to respond to the various situations they face in the line of duty. However, the wide discretionary powers granted to the police should be matched by effective supervision and oversight from the government, the administrative staff and the general public as a whole.

Moreover, since the majority of America’s prisoners are in jail for drug related offenses, there has been a loud cry for the decriminalization and subsequent legalization of drugs like marijuana which are known to have medicinal uses. If this is done, it will lead to a significant reduction in the number of inmates in America’s federal and state penitentiaries and ease the pressure on the government’s budget. It must be noted that, legalizing marijuana will not only make it easier to regulate its use and trade, it will also make it an income generating commodity which will generate income for its cultivators and for the government in the form of state and federal taxes. With the legalization of medicinal marijuana in 21 US states and the legalization of recreational marijuana in the states of Colorado and Washington, this policy directive appears to be gaining ground albeit slowly. If widely successful, it will eliminate the mass incarceration of Americans for small time offenses like drug possession which have been largely responsible for the overpopulation of America’s jails.

Furthermore, state and federal governments should be committed to addressing basic economic factors which foster criminal activities in society, namely poverty, deprivation and unemployment. Criminal activities are often a response to the survival instincts of individuals. In a society where individuals are constantly faced with the hardships of poverty and lack of basic needs, crime becomes an increasingly viable alternative especially when meaningful employment is scarce. It is therefore imperative for the government to partner private agencies to promote education and skilled training especially in low income communities so as to reduce poverty and deprivation and eliminate crime as a source of income.

 If these measures are taken and effectively and efficiently executed, I believe countries will move a step closer to creating a safe place for their people and a conducive environment for sustainable and just human development and economic wellbeing. Comment on your view of incarceration policy in your country or elsewhere.

 

WEBNAPPED: SAVING TEENS FROM CYBER-SLAVERY

 

In a generation where the internet, smartphones and computers are cheap and easily accessible, the web has become the newest and largest system for self-ostracism in today’s world. A potent internet-driven force has emerged in the form of a network of virtual relationships collectively called the social media.

Teenagers of today are so hooked to the social media that, it has become an addictive “drug” requiring a special form of rehabilitation to treat. Talk of teenage suicide, teenage motor accidents, bullying and other untoward teenage behavior and social media will pop up soon enough. Less than a year ago, there were series of teenage suicides in reaction to cyberbullying on popular social network sites some of which were suspected to be copycat suicides adopted from the internet. We also hear of countless motor accidents involving teens who text and drive. The young generation is not being socialized properly because the social relations and face to face interactions that make community life possible have been almost totally replaced by virtual relations.

            Teenagers today have traded their real life social relations for hundreds and thousands of virtual friends and followers many of whom they know nothing about, never met and may never even meet. They confide in virtual friends rather than their families and real life friends and live their life seeking the approval and thumbs up of their online buddies. Popular online trends like #YOLO and #idgf have got many children (and some adults) living life on the edge in a bid to gain “virtual popularity”  in the form of more friends/followers, comments, likes, retweets, favorites and revines. Trends like #teamnosleep and #hitsblunt have got teens depriving themselves of useful rest while idolizing drug use.  Sadly, the real life social relations that can help rescue our children from the bondage of social media has itself been weakened by the overly individualistic society that America has become. The network of social checks that make a good society have been downsized by the notions of personal freedom, ownership and choice. Parents have lost some of their power to guide their children because children now feel responsible for themselves and feel free to abuse their liberties by experimenting with drugs, sex and alcohol. Underage children in colleges indulge in alcohol, drink and drive, experiment with drugs and even commit sex offenses and yet administrators are unable to fully check these sometimes due to “misunderstood” notions of privacy and freedom.

            With the rise in suicides attributed to cyber-bullying and the worrying trend of copycat suicides, it is very important that the problem of “social media corruption” be tackled immediately so save children from the moral corruption, exploitation and irresponsibility associated with the social media. I am not calling for the censoring of the internet (I dare not), instead, I am calling for parents and guardians to educate children and alert them to some negative effects of the social media- like cyber bullying- that children may be unaware of or be likely to overlook. Let us all help make the social media a tool of social interaction and not a tool of media capture. Kindly share your thoughts on the subject.

           

           

 

STRETCHING: THE ELASTIC EFFECT OF PLAYING HARD TO GET.

 



 

         
          It's Valentine's Day again and many people are looking forward to surprising and being surprised by their partners and crushes. But while many people in relationships embrace the February 14 "lovers day" with excitement (I'm sure those too broke to afford presents do not) to many single people it is a painful reminder of how lonesome you are. Relationships are often a fun thing to have and to observe and the joy we feel for couples makes it the more enticing. However, preceding all the caressing, kissing, couple-times and PDA (public display of affection) is the dreaded "asking out" phase. The social construction of mechanisms for "adding value" to ones self has created a widespread system of value addition where individuals (often times ladies) make it teasingly difficult for boys to win them over, this is what I mean by "stretching"- a term widely used in my native homeland of Ghana. Stretching is enforced by the mindset that doing so will make the "chaser" appreciate and value you and, among others things, save you from being tried in the court of public opinion, sentenced and labelled "cheap" or "easy". At many other times it is a clear show of a lack of interest in a "suitor" though pursuers often go into denial and doubt this truth. As a relationship novice myself, I may not be adequately "experienced" to discuss stretching, but from my discussions with others I have identified that while experienced parties see stretching as an important part of the "grabbing" process, the novices find it extremely heart-wrenching and unnecessary, especially in cases where they (the stretchees) feel their advances are in reaction to "real or perceived" advances initiated by the "stretcher". 

        I for one think stretching is necessary; I believe it adds to the "fun" of finding love and serves the interests of either parties. On one hand the stretcher gets emotional and mental satisfaction while escaping labelling. On the other, the "stretchee" is made to work hard and, if successful, basks in the glory of "conquest and accomplishment". Even in the commonplace event where the stretchee looses, it constitutes a learning curve and provides very useful experience. (laughs).

        But as the term implies, stretching involves pushing the patience and endurance of a pursuer and like an elastic band, the snapback can be devastating to the stretcher. I have friends who were left distraught because they over-stretched their secret crushes and ended up on the losing end because the pursuers opted to try their luck elsewhere. My take is short and simple; everything in moderation, even too much of something good could be bad. Besides, why stretch when you share the feelings of the pursuer? Comment and share your story and opinions on stretching.

 

 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.