It is undeniably true that the visit of President Barack Obama has ignited the ‘Yes We Can’ atmosphere of fighting for the realization of development which is virtually nothing new to the country. It is very significant that the country got that rude awakening of the fact that we have it all to make development happen. Unfortunately distinctive attitudes at causing a change and overhauling the present state of the economy to one capable of diluting the enormous threat posed by chronic poverty on the majority poor are completely absent. We are still in an economy where politics has dimmed the glittering importance of social justice and the national cake is being gobbled up by only those in positions of authority and their so-called party fanatics. Now the dust has settled and surely Ghana will revert back to the normal atmosphere that was instilled by the change of President Obama’s visit. So, is Ghana’s development agenda a lost priority? And when would it be found?

The lost focus on institution

‘In the 21st century, capable, reliable and transparent institutions are the key to success…’ a statement by President Barack Obama of the United States. Indeed, Ghana does not need strong men but strong institutions in firmly pioneering the progress of the economy where a haven can be created to cater for the dire poverty of the people. There is no gainsaying that the nature of institutions have greatly accounted to the long slackness of the country to experience any significant growth. It should be noted with concern that ‘institutions’ goes beyond the bodies or structures that control the vital pillars of administration of the country. [Avner] Greif lays out a formal definition of an institution as ‘a system of rules, beliefs, norms and organizations that together generate a regularity of (social) behavior’. Institutions, therefore, influence the behavior of the ordinary people through shaping the various forms of responsibilities, liberties and motivations. The beliefs and norms are taken to be so different from the known operations of existing organizations that can enormously spearhead the development agenda to ensure sufficient prosperity. The attitude of Ghanaians has completely been shaped to move in the direction perceived to be helpful but full of flaws that could plunge the country into further disasters. Significant of these attitudes are evidenced in the nature of politics being practiced in the country. So much selfish ambitions and heartless greediness has been attached to the recent politics in the country to the neglect of pro-poor strategies that would salvage the unsavory reputation attached to the ensign of worthy strategies of development in Ghana.

It is now a norm to automatically benefit from the party you suffered to gain political power without necessarily working for it. How then can we redeem our lost reputation and set the records straight to that capable of empowering the livelihoods of the ordinary Ghanaian? It is important to reveal that one of the core issues surrounding the abject poverty in the country is the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness inherent in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). It is, indeed, a recognisable fact that MMDAs as regards their operations are in shambles. This explains why deepening poverty in the rural areas is assuming sophisticated heights despite the astronomical increase in rural development programmes from the government and international agencies and developed countries. Apart from the fact that the DACF are very much misappropriated, the central government in an attempt can increase the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) by 100% but there will not be any milestone in the achievement of the vision of ensuring rural development if the nuisance in the MMDAs is not properly dealt with. The MMDAs needs a complete resuscitation if the benefits of decentralization are to be realized. Some few individuals are cheaply squandering state funds and it is of no wonder that the progress of the economy is bedeviled with endemic corruption. There is nothing like co-ordination, a major component of decentralization between the various departments of the assemblies as if to say they are different entities. This has rendered information flow very poor. How then can this existing trait assist the envisaged efforts of the country to attain a middle income status? For the sake of the realization of development of Ghana, the government should as a matter of urgency conduct comprehensive investigations into the works of the MMDAs and it would be surprising to know the nature of blemishes the country is subtly dealing with in our approach to development.

Towards a Social Compact

Despite the large measure of political stability and perceived stable economy suddenly being hailed in the world, Ghana has failed to create the growth necessary to sustain expansion and poverty alleviation. This is as a result of the neglect of vital ingredient in every development process and it is a viable social compact. A social compact which is a set of obligations, based on agreed values between the state and its people is a recipe towards the realization of the dreams long yearned for. It is, however, unfortunate that the relationship that exists between the state and people in Ghana is very bleak. Typically, the state has been slow in reducing people’s risks- through law and order, services and infrastructure in return for the commitment of the people to the state (including the willingness to finance it through taxation). How then can Ghana build a viable social compact amid enormous development failures? It is worthy of note that the basic pre-requisite behind building a firm social compact is vigorously tackling the issues of chronic poverty and spatial disparity. For development strategies to trickle down to the rural areas as a move towards creating a framework of progress, it should inculcate the equitable distribution of the benefits of development between the urban and rural populace. The realization and strengthening of social compact strongly involves the provision of social protection measures meant to uplift the livelihood capacity of the poor. As part of the conditions of the US$535 million package from the World Bank include ‘correcting any budget deviation which includes fiscal deficits and pro-poor expenditures’. How then can the government of Ghana protect the poor by extending the number of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) beneficiaries (as proposed by the World Bank) if pro-poor expenditure is a budget deviation and as such merits correction. Is this not a contradiction when government is pushed to cut expenditures on basic public services including education, electricity, fuel just to mention a few and at the same time protect the poor especially when there are not yet adequate ventures in terms of employment where the ordinarily Ghanaian can have improved living. For now, a multipronged approach to social protection is relevant in salvaging the expected plights of the chronically poor. If pro-poor expenditure is a budget deviation, then certainly there would be nothing to gain from expanding the beneficiaries of LEAP since it is a pro-poor expenditure. Ghana cannot protect the majority poor without social safety nets which involve programmes that would ensure that the poor is gainfully employed in vital sectors of the economy contributing to the holistic growth of the country. This will aid the country to make strides in human development. It is now an antiquated approach and a mishap if improved GDP and growth of an economy is used to represent a substantial improvement in the wellbeing of the people as it is now happening in the country. Basic building and consolidation of social compact could be realized based on enough significance and recognition attached to the functions of social and economic movements that seek the welfare of the ordinary people. The political atmosphere of the country should create the favourable platform for the government, civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations to rescue the citizenry from the firm grip of poverty.

Conclusion

The development of the country is strongly reliant on how the institution which determines our attitude is given the necessary attention. Ghana is where it is because really the attitude exhibited is haunting us. A viable social compact is fundamental to the development quest of the county and is very crucial that at 21st century enough commitment is made to curtail the menace of chronic poverty. Taking a hard look at the happenings in Ghana definitely acknowledges that the future lies in our own hands. It is increasingly clear that development in Ghana is not a lost priority only if the country puts things in order. Enough seriousness is needed. Long live Ghana!!

The author Stephen Yeboah is at the Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. Email: stephenyeboah110@yahoo.com.