These Mahama's are fools, what is this idiot saying?. Ghana is out of any good thing, period.
These Mahama's are fools, what is this idiot saying?. Ghana is out of any good thing, period.
Billy 10 years ago
These folks are idiots. We are doomed ! No progress ! Governance of retrogression! Chop chop Government...
These folks are idiots. We are doomed ! No progress ! Governance of retrogression! Chop chop Government...
Ghfuo, change ur thinking 10 years ago
They make twice as much if not more for the aid they give to foolish African, Ghana govt. So why will they stop? Know the ledge.....
They make twice as much if not more for the aid they give to foolish African, Ghana govt. So why will they stop? Know the ledge.....
Dare 10 years ago
Its about time for donors to withdraw their support. With all your gold, diamond and now oil, you still have to beg to stay afloat. Shame on you Ghana!
Its about time for donors to withdraw their support. With all your gold, diamond and now oil, you still have to beg to stay afloat. Shame on you Ghana!
MENSAH 10 years ago
Ghana is like crying babies.
We do not know what we are about.
WE ACTUALLY LACK THINKERS.WE ARE IMPREGNATED WITH SHALLOW-MINDED POLITICIANS.
How long shall we be babies to the WESTERN BLOCK?
They know,you will come to beg ... read full comment
Ghana is like crying babies.
We do not know what we are about.
WE ACTUALLY LACK THINKERS.WE ARE IMPREGNATED WITH SHALLOW-MINDED POLITICIANS.
How long shall we be babies to the WESTERN BLOCK?
They know,you will come to beg them,therefore,imposing GAY RIGHTS REGISTRATION ON YOU,the time you need them the most.
YOU SEE HOW STUPID YOU LEADERS ARE?
THE CHOSEN ONE 10 years ago
SLASH THE SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES GIVEN TO THESE GOOD FOR NOTHING MPS AND MINISTERS AND SEE WHAT THE BALANCES WILL BE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
HOW CAN A COUNTRY PROGRESS WITH MPS CRYING FOR INCREASE IN THEIR WAGES SO THAT THE ... read full comment
SLASH THE SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES GIVEN TO THESE GOOD FOR NOTHING MPS AND MINISTERS AND SEE WHAT THE BALANCES WILL BE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
HOW CAN A COUNTRY PROGRESS WITH MPS CRYING FOR INCREASE IN THEIR WAGES SO THAT THEY CAN BE ABLE TO GO TO FUNERALS AND OTHER ENGAGEMENTS TO GIVE OUT MONEY.
THAT KOKOASI KURASINI MP FOR MANHYIA ARGUING THAT WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN THEIR WAGES HE WILL GO BACK TO PRACTISING MEDICINE,I HOPE HE DID BECAUSE THAT WILL SERVE MOTHER GHANA BETTER.
HOW CAN THESE SO CALLED POLITRICIAN SIT IN PARLIAMENT AND THE NATIONS BUDGET BEEN SPONSORED BY FOREIGN DONORS?
SUKUU NYASA IS SHIT INDEED.
JAMES Y 10 years ago
One major factor which has brought about this state of affair is the senseless policy of SSSS. This policy alone has taken almost the entire state revenue with nothing left for productive capital projects. Unless, this irresp ... read full comment
One major factor which has brought about this state of affair is the senseless policy of SSSS. This policy alone has taken almost the entire state revenue with nothing left for productive capital projects. Unless, this irresponsible and naïve policy is thrown out, Ghana would always have difficulty attracting funds abroad and there would be no way back.
RAW 10 years ago
HOW LONG SHOULD WE DEPEND ON DONORS??
HOW LONG SHOULD WE DEPEND ON DONORS??
Joe 10 years ago
I pray that the donors stop giving,since the Money will land in the pockets of corrupt politicians.
I pray that the donors stop giving,since the Money will land in the pockets of corrupt politicians.
Pelicles 10 years ago
I wish the donors will stop supporting our budget since we are "independent".
I wish the donors will stop supporting our budget since we are "independent".
Don Gyening 10 years ago
Don Gyening’s Response: Oct 14th, 2013
In the Oct 6, 2013 Daily Graphic article titled, “Donors haven’t withdrawn support for Ghana Government”, there is a play of semantics that appears to be, at the least, misleadi ... read full comment
Don Gyening’s Response: Oct 14th, 2013
In the Oct 6, 2013 Daily Graphic article titled, “Donors haven’t withdrawn support for Ghana Government”, there is a play of semantics that appears to be, at the least, misleading, if not an outright auto deception.
Judging from the statement made by the media relations Minister, Mahama Ayariga, “I have not heard the donors officially say they are withdrawing; I’ve not heard that”, “they haven’t really withdrawn, just that they haven’t disbursed also”, there is an obvious lack of understanding about the mechanisms and dynamics that exist between donor partners and the recipient Governments, among which is Ghana, as well as a lack of knowledge or conscientious attempt to conceal the facts about outcomes of interactions between the two parties in recent times. I will try to throw a little light on the state of issues.
Recent History of Outcome of interactions between the parties;
The results of interactions between the International Financial Institutions (IFI/(Donors) and Ghana is summed up by Sam Doe Ablordepey, in an article which was published in the Daily Graphic on April 19th, 2013, titled “Africa gets lower World Bank Support”. Reporting on revelations made by Mr. John Garrison, World Bank’s Civil Society Team Leader, in a civil societies’ forum held as a precursor to the 2013 Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC, he made it clear that the reason why donors were not disbursing the much needed funds (loans) and grants to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa towards programs for economic growth, reduction of inequalities and improvement of the people’s living conditions, was, “the inability of the countries to submit good project proposals and implement projects properly”. In that same report it was made clear that Ghana in particular was still waiting for an outstanding amount of $1.5 Billion still undisbursed by IDA, due to delays in project design, implementation and procurement, and in such a time as this.
Against this backdrop, Mr. Ablordepey also told of the pledges made by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, the President of Ghana and the Hon Minister of Finance, Mr. Seth Terkper, to work in the direction to “empower institutions, ministries, departments and agencies with the right skills and capacity to enable them deliver”. It is worthy to underscore the fact that notoriously huge amounts of funds have already been and continue to be allotted to capacity building in recent years without achieving the expected results. Ghana has been sending technocrats and politicians to capacity building forums repeatedly for, literally speaking, dozens of times, yet we have not been able to crack the secret code that will set free the restricted funds already committed to us, and bring home the proverbial bacon. It will therefore be an understatement to say, we have a serious problem that needs a systematic solution!
So it is not a matter of debating whether or not Donors have withdrawn support for the Ghana Government. Nor is it a time to play with ambiguous words that neither diagnose nor prescribe remedies for the persistent malady of “the inability for the countries to submit good project proposals and implement projects properly”.
Expressions made by Dr. Joe Abbey, Economist and Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Analysis, such as “there were disparities between the visions of the two parties” and “the donors “have not been able to bridge a little bit of a gap in a shared vision, a shared assessment of where we are and where we are going and so they have not reached so called closure”, is right on target. However it exposes the inability of the recipient nation to put a finger on the evasive qualifying condition lacking that needs to be met for the release of the funds. Our representatives in decision making positions should be candid to admit and must be humble enough to subscribe to proposals from presenters that have a proven record, of exposure to the process, to supply the needed guidance, which in effect is the missing link, in order to crack the unwritten code that can free our urgently needed funds and grants from donors.
It is also important to commend Dr. Abbey on his serious warning about the adverse consequences that might swiftly result if Ghana fails to “resolve whatever differences in perceptions” there are “between the government and the donors”. But his suggestion for the need to institute a two year home grown transparent and accountable program to address the problem is an understatement, from all perspectives. It actually requires a ten year home grown program initiated and supervised by the President; and it is well overdue! However Dr. Abbey will surely be saddened to learn that such a program has long been proposed, yet the presenter’s search for audience with decision makers, for several months now, has only been met with futility, apathy and ignorance; because the invisible, yet real wall of “protection” that surrounds the powers that be, have efficaciously “performed its duty” in keeping the proposal away from reaching the ears of the President. Probably because the presenter does not come with certain stereotypical outward strappings of so called “structured professional appearance” to commend it and render the program attractive enough to warrant access to audience of the higher powers. But I would respectfully beg to state that programs that work don’t necessarily have to walk about in costly suits nor exuberant kingly apparels! So let’s not judge programs by their appearances! Let’s just heed the contents, however unorthodox, however unassuming!
It should have been made clear by now that the International Financial Institutions (IFI/Donors) will never get to the point of stating that they have withdrawn support for a particular nation. That would be defeating their purpose. The most politically correct way that is also in synch with the objectives and raison d’être of these Donors, is to declare a potential recipient nation, “unable to submit projects that qualify” to receive the funds and grants that are rightfully theirs, by commitment and by virtue of being a member country of the Union of Nations that share in the common aspirations of enhancing the economic growth, reduction of inequalities and improvement of their people’s living condition. This is a noble quest, and the so called inalienable rights enshrined in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Ghana is a subscriber.
It is laudable however to hear the Hon Minister, Mr. Mahama Ayariga say that “the Government is looking at ways to close ranks with the Donors so that they will resume the aid disbursement”.
Yet it is also sad to say that a way has been offered to the Govt. and has been knocking at their doors for several months now, without gaining access to the ears of decision makers; all this while Ghana’s Financial Status has been going from stable to precarious. My fear is that we are running the palpable risk of this opportunity taking a flight, on the wings of rejection and disregard, and never more to return! So if there is anyone listening, we need to act swiftly!
Diagnosis
1. There are Funds available to be accessed from the International Financial Institutions (Donors) and other sources
2. It is the right of Ghana as member of the Union of Nations subscribing to the UN Charter to access Financial resource from the IFI
3. Ghana has not been able to access the Funds and Grants committed/pledged to us despite the several attempts made.
4. Reason being, our inability to expeditiously put together good project proposals and implement projects properly.
5. A lack of a clear written procedure and methodology that guides a prospective recipient nation to qualify for the funds and grants from the Donors
6. A lack of total understanding of the purpose, objective, and operations of the International Financial Institutions (Donors) and the place of Ghana in relation to these.
7. A lack of the necessary exposure to the process of designing projects that can qualify.
8. A lack of the necessary network of influential human resources in decision making circles of the International Financial World who can advocate on our behalf cause the balances to tilt in Ghana’s favor, during evaluations.
9. The hitherto attempts to qualify for the release of these funds and grants have been fraught with flaws that have not withstood the litmus tests, and thus renders the attempts vulnerable to being disqualified.
10. The current state of the Economy and Finance of Ghana needs a swift, decisive, comprehensive and radical shift of paradigm in our approach of doing things, from the status quo of déjà vu, business as usual, in order to enable us halt and reverse the downward spiral into a financial abyss of no easy escape.
Remedy and cost
For a considerably low investment of no more than US$ 4.3 Million per annum, the Govt. should employ the services of a consultant who has had the exposure and succeeded in cracking the unwritten code that can set us on the path to free the Funds and Grants so urgently needed. For heaven’s sake let us give it a trial!!
1. It will start with a national Program initiated by the President to last over a period of 10yrs
2. The initial Funds to run this program the 1st year, shall be financed by US Exim bank at the low interest rate of no more than 2.35% pa over a flexible term of 10 years. The program shall be self-financing thereafter.
3. The underlying guiding principle of this program will be “Accountability and Transparency”
4. There will be a total of 25 employees (5 foreign consultants and 20 Local professionals and specialists in various relevant fields)
5. Further details can be supplied upon request
Nonsence, why this way.
These Mahama's are fools, what is this idiot saying?. Ghana is out of any good thing, period.
These folks are idiots. We are doomed ! No progress ! Governance of retrogression! Chop chop Government...
They make twice as much if not more for the aid they give to foolish African, Ghana govt. So why will they stop? Know the ledge.....
Its about time for donors to withdraw their support. With all your gold, diamond and now oil, you still have to beg to stay afloat. Shame on you Ghana!
Ghana is like crying babies.
We do not know what we are about.
WE ACTUALLY LACK THINKERS.WE ARE IMPREGNATED WITH SHALLOW-MINDED POLITICIANS.
How long shall we be babies to the WESTERN BLOCK?
They know,you will come to beg ...
read full comment
SLASH THE SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES GIVEN TO THESE GOOD FOR NOTHING MPS AND MINISTERS AND SEE WHAT THE BALANCES WILL BE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
HOW CAN A COUNTRY PROGRESS WITH MPS CRYING FOR INCREASE IN THEIR WAGES SO THAT THE ...
read full comment
One major factor which has brought about this state of affair is the senseless policy of SSSS. This policy alone has taken almost the entire state revenue with nothing left for productive capital projects. Unless, this irresp ...
read full comment
HOW LONG SHOULD WE DEPEND ON DONORS??
I pray that the donors stop giving,since the Money will land in the pockets of corrupt politicians.
I wish the donors will stop supporting our budget since we are "independent".
Don Gyening’s Response: Oct 14th, 2013
In the Oct 6, 2013 Daily Graphic article titled, “Donors haven’t withdrawn support for Ghana Government”, there is a play of semantics that appears to be, at the least, misleadi ...
read full comment