Development is not by accident; it is by
choice. No country ever stumbled onto the path of development without years of
conscious planning and hard work. As a country, we have everything we need to proceed
to the next level of development.
In about a fortnight, Ghana will celebrate
its 57th independence anniversary. Assuming Ghana were a human, it would
have three years left to go on retirement. But I don’t think Ghana is happy
with her level of success over the years, especially compared to some of her classmates
in the Far East like Malaysia and co.
The founding fathers of this country,
including those who fought in the World Wars, had a vision of a prosperous
nation – not what we have now. While we appreciate the fact that at least our
fortunes are better than some countries in the sub-region, we must be careful
we don’t settle for mediocrity. Why must we settle for good when we can attain
the best?
Unlike countries which are prone to natural
disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes, droughts among others, Ghana is not
disposed to such calamities. All of our problems, since independence, have been
man-made – some created by selfish people to profit from the failure of the
system.
That corruption has been our bane is a
cliché now. So long as people, especially our political leaders, continue to
put their interests above that of the country, we should forget about making
meaningful progress towards development. We will continue to take a step
forward, and three backwards. This is no aerodynamics, just common sense.
Some months ago, a friend arriving from the
USA asked me why we still have bad roads even in Accra. My answer to him was
simple: it is because the people responsible for putting the roads in good shape
are chauffeured around town in four-wheel vehicles with proper shock absorbers and
don’t feel the pain of the bumpiness of the road.
Anyone who doubts this should take a trip
to our Ministries. I won’t state a specific Ministry; just visit any of them.
The number of vehicles parked (no pun
intended) is a marvel. The four-wheel
drives are just about a perk for any director of a Ministry, not to mention the
other luxurious vehicles available to Ministers.
Come to think of it, why should someone use
a cross-country vehicle within a city? And to think that all these costs, the
maintenance and fuel, are borne by the ordinary taxpayer makes me cringe. The
road to development is no rocket science.
We claim times are hard and the citizens
must tighten their belts even further; yet our leaders continue to engage in
profligacy. In terms of efforts at development, they have not been radical
enough. Those responsible for solving some of our key problems are themselves
asleep.
I am not saying no Ministry should be allowed
to use a 4x4 – just that these vehicles must be limited to cross-country travels
alone. If we are able to maintain an excellent road network, who says a Chief
Director of a Ministry can’t drive a saloon car in Accra without stress?
President John Mahama may have taken a
pay-cut; that is commendable. But imagine the monies we will save if we are
able to cut down on the ostentatious living of these public servants. He could
start by ordering these directors to use economical vehicles while government focuses
on rehabilitating the roads.
And for those that may still want to use
the luxurious cars, they must be made to bear the maintenance and fuel cost –
considering these cars have already been purchased. The use of such vehicles
may then be limited to cross-country travels.
We will be getting somewhere with measures such
as this. Of course, not everybody may like this initiative, especially those
who will be directly affected by it. But for how long are we going to carry on with
this wasteful living when the entire country is immersed in poverty?
In any case, why can’t our leaders
patronise public transport? After all, leaders in some other countries do that
daily. It is these same leaders we always go and beg for aid and donor support
to continue our extravagant lifestyle.
It is a shame that after 57 years of
independence the biggest hospital in the country was built in the colonial era.
Of course, it doesn’t matter so long as our leaders can afford to go to expensive
private specialists and the cost be borne by taxpayers. They just don’t care.
We can’t have an effective system if those
responsible for the system and are not part of it. How about a quick survey of
all Members of Parliament or government officials who have enrolled on the
National Health Insurance Scheme and are utilising it?
What about the number of high public
officials or MPs who have their wards in public basic schools? Is it that they
don’t think the quality there is high enough for their kids? If we want the
public schools to become the best, let’s enact a law that will force all of
these officials to put their kids in these public schools.
If they truly believe that they have done
their best for the sector, they should be prepared to also taste and be part of
it. How can they serve us food they have cooked yet have not tasted themselves?
We need to get serious in this country. So
long as we do ordinary things, we will get ordinary results. Let’s make this
country work. Mr. President, your move.
I’m out.
abbeykwei@gmail.com
First published on 21 February, 2014
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