Hi. So I know this will be a very annoying or interesting post depending on which side of the political divide you stand. But basically, I want to discuss the walk to promote made in Ghana goods that has recently taken place. The first lesson this walk has taught me is that some people need to SHUT UP and learn. Organising events proved not to be too easy for even them.
So we first heard of this walk to support made in Ghana goods as an opposing march to the #occupyflagstaffhouse campaign. It is a shocker. You show support for the President and then claim you are promoting made in Ghana goods. Nice. interesting concept but here are a few questions.
1. Who paid for the walk?
2. Were state funds utilized in anyway?
3. How do we assess the impact of what they have done?
Once we have answers to these questions, I believe we can have a more serious discussion on the matters they tried to push.
But, on the social media campaign for this walk, here is a free lesson: you talk the event on social media, walk the talk and report the walk. You do not talk the walk after it has happened. Bad idea.
It is interesting to know however that #occupyflagstaffgouse really made an impact. At least we got a free made in ghana campaign as an add on.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Friday, July 4, 2014
LOANS, PADS AND FADS: THE TRIAL OF COMMON SENSE IN GHANA TODAY.
hmmmm. I do not know how to begin today's post because there is a lot to talk about. But lets start with the obvious controversial fad now: the m-pad discussions (Mahama Pad discussions). For me, my attitude is not to be too dismissive outrightly of the project. I choose to analyze it further. Fortunately, someone has been kind enough to share the project appraisal from the world bank so I trust that I will be in a better position to comment on it when I am done reading it. Initially, I admit it sounds outrageous and ill conceived but well, I am not the repository of all wisdom so we shall see.
My more pressing concern is the fact that Government intends to spend $4.3 Million on each secondary it is going to build under this loan. If you do a quick check, that about 13.76 million ghana cedis. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS. IT IS DUBIOUS. How on earth could this have been approved by parliament? In a country where we claim that the price of a six classroom block with ancillary facilities is 350,000 in 2014, what is the justification for a single day secondary school costing 13.76 million ghana cedis? Will the building be coated in gold? Come on. That is way too much.
Aside the obvious outrageous nature of this deal, an even greater problem with the management of the economy is made evident with this proposal. So when it came to setting up an entrepreneurial fund for the country, the managers of the economy thought that 10 million ghana cedis was enough. What is glaring is that that is less than the cost of building a single secondary school. So entrepreneurial development and empowerment in a jobless economy like Ghana's has been given less priority than a single secondary school? Whats wrong with us? Do the managers of the economy understand what it takes to create jobs and help the citizenry get more money in their pockets to pay the ever increasing taxes? What are we trying to achieve? Do they know what they are up to?
I recently accused a government spokesperson of lacking the requisite knowledge to be a board member or to even comment on the matters he was seeking to present himself as knowledgeable on. I was harshly questioned and an attempt was made to ridicule me. But, if indeed the managers of the economy understand what they are doing, why this? What is going on?
My more pressing concern is the fact that Government intends to spend $4.3 Million on each secondary it is going to build under this loan. If you do a quick check, that about 13.76 million ghana cedis. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS. IT IS DUBIOUS. How on earth could this have been approved by parliament? In a country where we claim that the price of a six classroom block with ancillary facilities is 350,000 in 2014, what is the justification for a single day secondary school costing 13.76 million ghana cedis? Will the building be coated in gold? Come on. That is way too much.
Aside the obvious outrageous nature of this deal, an even greater problem with the management of the economy is made evident with this proposal. So when it came to setting up an entrepreneurial fund for the country, the managers of the economy thought that 10 million ghana cedis was enough. What is glaring is that that is less than the cost of building a single secondary school. So entrepreneurial development and empowerment in a jobless economy like Ghana's has been given less priority than a single secondary school? Whats wrong with us? Do the managers of the economy understand what it takes to create jobs and help the citizenry get more money in their pockets to pay the ever increasing taxes? What are we trying to achieve? Do they know what they are up to?
I recently accused a government spokesperson of lacking the requisite knowledge to be a board member or to even comment on the matters he was seeking to present himself as knowledgeable on. I was harshly questioned and an attempt was made to ridicule me. But, if indeed the managers of the economy understand what they are doing, why this? What is going on?
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
OF OCCUPATION AND DEMONSTRATION: MY HUMBLE REACTION.
For once the middle class of the country left their comfortable homes and offices and endeavoured to get into the streets to vent their frustrations at government. Basically, they are asking that Ghana be made to work again. I personally doff my cap to all demonstrators who ventured forth. The message has been sent.
From the inception of the demonstration to its very end, various members of officialdom, reacted to it. Some were interesting while others were dumb and provocative. A few notable ones will however remain with me.
John 'drama' Dramani Mahama, the president, reacted by saying he has been listening and will continue to listen. My appeal is that whoever advised him to make that statement needs to be sacked with immediate effect. Does the president think what we want in this country is someone who will sit down for crisis to occur and then tell us he is listening? We have our mothers, wives and girlfriends to talk to about our frustrations, his is one too many ear. We want action, we want solutions, we want Ghana to work again not just another ear to listen to us. I guess his damage control specialists will now have to come and spin this one too that his statement was incomplete and that the part of him promising to solve the problems was left out by unscrupulous media men and women who are advocating "regime change".
The least said about Hannah Tetteh, the better. She is one woman I had grown to respect over the years but her recent actions leave a very bitter taste in my mind. I guess the group think mentality of he party has affected her too. Such a sad case.
Dr. Micheal Kpessah White needs to be careful though. I was once with him in a tv discussion show and I walked away with the impression that he was an emotional bag that explodes to spew vitriol once he feels the ruling government is under attack. An otherwise finely educated gentleman, his outbursts will surely leave a large majority of the people think his 'cool dude' attitude is a calculated pretence meant to deceive. For a person who until his appointment as a presidential staffer was always freely sharing his opinions on radio, it is mortifying to realise that he is so intolerant of divergent opinions.
The rest are best left ignored. The principal matter here is that the youth of this country have arisen. I hope this 'arising' will lead to better results.
From the inception of the demonstration to its very end, various members of officialdom, reacted to it. Some were interesting while others were dumb and provocative. A few notable ones will however remain with me.
John 'drama' Dramani Mahama, the president, reacted by saying he has been listening and will continue to listen. My appeal is that whoever advised him to make that statement needs to be sacked with immediate effect. Does the president think what we want in this country is someone who will sit down for crisis to occur and then tell us he is listening? We have our mothers, wives and girlfriends to talk to about our frustrations, his is one too many ear. We want action, we want solutions, we want Ghana to work again not just another ear to listen to us. I guess his damage control specialists will now have to come and spin this one too that his statement was incomplete and that the part of him promising to solve the problems was left out by unscrupulous media men and women who are advocating "regime change".
The least said about Hannah Tetteh, the better. She is one woman I had grown to respect over the years but her recent actions leave a very bitter taste in my mind. I guess the group think mentality of he party has affected her too. Such a sad case.
Dr. Micheal Kpessah White needs to be careful though. I was once with him in a tv discussion show and I walked away with the impression that he was an emotional bag that explodes to spew vitriol once he feels the ruling government is under attack. An otherwise finely educated gentleman, his outbursts will surely leave a large majority of the people think his 'cool dude' attitude is a calculated pretence meant to deceive. For a person who until his appointment as a presidential staffer was always freely sharing his opinions on radio, it is mortifying to realise that he is so intolerant of divergent opinions.
The rest are best left ignored. The principal matter here is that the youth of this country have arisen. I hope this 'arising' will lead to better results.
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