Hi Kwesi, long time. Your thesis is interesting. What you have observed is correct and universal. To me life in the entire world is getting a lot worse what with global warming, junk food, terrible music, Genetically Modified ... read full comment
Hi Kwesi, long time. Your thesis is interesting. What you have observed is correct and universal. To me life in the entire world is getting a lot worse what with global warming, junk food, terrible music, Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs, lack of patriotism, highest levels of corruption, religious deceit through the tele-evangelism prosperity industry, among others. Keep writing.
Kwame 10 years ago
Life is too difficult in Ghana now.
Life is too difficult in Ghana now.
Kofi 10 years ago
Your article is full of factual inaccuracies and whilst you attempt to portray your neutralility, you seem to hit hard at JA Kufuor, and look favorably on the Nkrumah & Rawlings admin. I can categorically tell you that the ... read full comment
Your article is full of factual inaccuracies and whilst you attempt to portray your neutralility, you seem to hit hard at JA Kufuor, and look favorably on the Nkrumah & Rawlings admin. I can categorically tell you that the NPP admin, managed the exchange rate better than any previous admin during its 8 yrs and those of us in the finance industry found it easier to borrow in USD,euro etc. The was significant economic progress and people had more confidence in the economy. Most manufacturing companies in Ghana retooled and invested significantly in their capacity and the economic productivity actually grew, statistics will support this assertion. Mr Rawlings contributed to the significant decline in manufacturing. This current admin is clueless and did not have a plan to further progress the country in place before assuming power. A true unbiased assessment of Ghana, will show that JA Kufuor laid down a good foundation for growth and this has been squandered in the last 5 years. Ghana is no better today, because there is a sense of despair that has crept into the national psyche. I think that you need to follow this up with a better structured approach at determining if life is indeed better, be it the inner happiness or the external material things that you allude to as a barometer. The perception that people complain needlessly is flawed, as we all strive to attain certain standards in life and this creates an intrinsic value, that leads to a sense of satisfaction.
Dani boy 10 years ago
You make too much noise about knowledge in Economics but do not know anything about its application. That youth employment surged and reached a crescendo, worsened balance of payment and weakening exchange rate of the cedi as ... read full comment
You make too much noise about knowledge in Economics but do not know anything about its application. That youth employment surged and reached a crescendo, worsened balance of payment and weakening exchange rate of the cedi as result of trade liberation. On youth unemployment, JA kuffour created more jobs than we have witnessed in the past thirty years. Youth Employment Programme was consciously pursed. The National Health Insurance Scheme introduced in 2003 created more jobs for the youth. The Metro Mass was another major source of employment opportunity for the youth. Kuffour injected more hope in the youth. The Youth were given skilled training and employed in the health, education and security sectors. Indirectly, a sound and resilient economy built by the Kuffour administration saw the proliferation of financial institutions of from Nigeria that gave more jobs to the youth.
Then again, on the depreciation of the cedi, an unbiased assessment of the economy will show that the cedi was more stable in the Kuffour than more past and current administration. In 1995, $1 = c1500 and a free fall of the cedi from 1995 to 2000 with $1 = c7000. Inflation hitting as high as 40% under Rawlings watch. In eight years from 2001 to 2008 the cedi stabilise a longer period of time. Infact, when Kuffour was leaving office $1 = GHC 1.2 (C12000). Can Kwesi tell us how many manufacturing companies collapsed used the Kuffour watched and compared it with the Rawlings administration. Even though you claimed to be unbiased it clearly showed.
ADWEN 10 years ago
Kwesi, most of your piece is so historical and nostalgic to read. But your implied unplanned assumptions regarding change management are unfortunate and do not augur well for Ghana and any country undergoing development.
Mos ... read full comment
Kwesi, most of your piece is so historical and nostalgic to read. But your implied unplanned assumptions regarding change management are unfortunate and do not augur well for Ghana and any country undergoing development.
Most of the economic and political situations you referred to in the 60 through the 80s were due to lack of planning which resulted in those chaotic moments in Ghana.
Population size was quite manageable, the East-West political dichotomy, post-colonial independence issues, competition among countries for natural resources then was not fierce as now: now we have to deal with globalisation, fierce competition among countries for resources, etc.
Hence we need to plan effectively to ensure sustainability in our resources (human and mineral), we can't take for granted the resources available in the time periods (up to the nolstagic 60s, 70s, 80s, etc) you referred to any more.
We need a more structured approach to managing ourselves, which the current NDC government is seriously failing to do. Rather they have imposed on Ghana a regime of avarice and ubiquitous corruption which has made life unbearable to the average Ghanaian than any regime in the history of Ghana.
We never needed mobile phones, Ipads, etc., you referred to in the 60s and 70s to function effectively as they were simply not available and not necessary to function effectively in society then. These are basic necessities now to function effectively in modern society. Hence, one cannot use availability of these gadgets as Ghana being better.
KWEKU BOATENG 10 years ago
OUR LEADERS HAVE DESTROYED GHANA - NKRUMAH INCLUDED!!
OUR LEADERS HAVE DESTROYED GHANA - NKRUMAH INCLUDED!!
Hi Kwesi, long time. Your thesis is interesting. What you have observed is correct and universal. To me life in the entire world is getting a lot worse what with global warming, junk food, terrible music, Genetically Modified ...
read full comment
Life is too difficult in Ghana now.
Your article is full of factual inaccuracies and whilst you attempt to portray your neutralility, you seem to hit hard at JA Kufuor, and look favorably on the Nkrumah & Rawlings admin. I can categorically tell you that the ...
read full comment
You make too much noise about knowledge in Economics but do not know anything about its application. That youth employment surged and reached a crescendo, worsened balance of payment and weakening exchange rate of the cedi as ...
read full comment
Kwesi, most of your piece is so historical and nostalgic to read. But your implied unplanned assumptions regarding change management are unfortunate and do not augur well for Ghana and any country undergoing development.
Mos ...
read full comment
OUR LEADERS HAVE DESTROYED GHANA - NKRUMAH INCLUDED!!