INDUSTRIALISATION AND MENTOR NATION
By Desmond Ayim-Aboagye (Ph.D.)
Feature Article | Sat, 25 Apr 2009
Feature Article | Sat, 25 Apr 2009
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By Desmond Ayim-Aboagye
PREAMBLE
We have already discussed the necessity of allowing Ghana to have a mentor nation that will coach the people of Ghana how to become industrialised in no time. This is coupled with all the primary efforts being made at home to get the small industries being commenced by Ghanaians as well as foreign nationals. The mentorship will mean that the mentor nation will get involved both financially and physically to aid Ghana overcome all obstacles that will confront them in concerning Ghana becoming an industrialised nation. The idea to entreat the help of a mentor shows that Ghana has the potential and adequate resources to embark on industrialisation. This idea, which is enshrined in the principle of imitation and adaptation, is known as the”agreement approach method.” It provides the mentor nation the power to become involved strenuously in Ghana's industrialisation. The following questions then can be posed concerning this business venture being proposed: What will this mentor nation bring to this business venture? What advantages exist in securing a mentor nation in our attempt to become an industrialised nation in the near future?
BOOST INVESTOR CONFIDENCE
There is no question about the fact that securing a mentor nation to become actively involved in our industrialisation will boost the confidence in investors to come in and invest in numbers in this country which has a rich cultural history. The inability to have something that will tell these interested individuals and co-operations that we are reliable people in a peaceful country such as Ghana, has been one of the weaknesses that impeded the progress of our nation. It has had to do with military dictatorships and other minor vices, such as corruption that had had bad influence on people that would like to come and invest in this country. If these investors are aware that a particular nation that had already teamed up with certain countries before and had successfully made industrialisation come to these countries, it will consolidate their faith to enter into the country to become investors or buy assets that will strengthen our economy.
ACCESS TO CAPITAL
It is quite true that at the moment we may be counting on the oil revenue to help us get started, but I also think that, with the coming in of a mentor nation the problem with capital for investors will be lessened. Historically, we have had countries through alliance principle, which is the same as mentorship having invested heavily in their partners' countries. For example, British capital helped the Swedes to work on their iron ore deposits; French capital helped the newly built USA to industrialise; British capital aided South Africa to emerge as an industrialised nation; and British and the French helped many countries in the South America to get started in their industries. Recently, the huge investments made by the USA in South Korea and the enormous investments made by the British in Hong Kong tell us that mentor nations have the capability of assuring Ghana with considerable strength through their investments and their provision of huge capital. This point is very clear and in the case of Ghana, at least they know that they shall have something back to help their country and its people also. Without the help of mentor nation it will be impossible to obtain tremendous investments that had pushed certain countries ahead in their industrialisation. From north to south, from east to west, it has been the work of mentor countries that either entered in the early stages of a particular nation's development or later during their success period. Capital is the biggest problem facing developing countries in their attempt to industrialise and only mentor countries can rescue Ghana and make it get started.
SIGNAL READINESS AND SERIOUSNESS
As soon as Ghana makes it a reality to enlist the help of a mentor nation, it would signal a strong positive sign to the world that it means business with its efforts to become an industrialised nation. Potential investors would flock in with their resources and assets to commence investing in this country. It will show to the world that Ghana means business because the publicity alone helps many countries to surge ahead when they were on the verge of becoming industrialised. We had witnessed the influence of publicity with the industrialisation of countries such as China, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, and many others.
GROWTH LONGEVITY IN MINOR PARTNERS
Of course, the enlisting of help from a mentor nation does not prevent other countries that want to have stronger contacts with Ghana. Many other nations both rich and poor would be more interested in coming into the country to invest or buy assets. But these moves would be largely done because of the credibility of this mentor nation that its presence calls for other potential investors to come in. Through the mentor nation Ghana will secure other business partners who may be willing to invest in this country as well.
BECOME PART OF A GENEROUSLY PROPORTIONED ECONOMY
As mentioned already to enlist the help of a mentor nation it gives Ghana the chance to become part of a larger economy. Certain manufacturing sectors that already exist in the mentor's nation may probably decide to move a daughter company to Ghana, probably to manufacture certain parts of products they manufacture themselves. In the end Ghana will be capable of producing independent spare parts for a big company in the mentor nation. By doing that they shall give Ghana a feel of how it is to become industrialised.
ASSESS STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS
The mentor nation would be in a better position to assess Ghana's weakness and strength and to be able to issue constructive judgements about what to produce and not to produce. Moreover, they shall obtain advice concerning what to manufacture and what should be avoided at the interim. Of course, this function could be done by IMF and other international organs without any problems but someone that has interests in a venture would do better than them.
REMOVAL OF INDUSTRY TO SUITABLE PLACE
Certain industries that a mentor country thinks they would be performing better in Ghana than their own country could be moved here. Of course this will not be done without protest. But it must be mentioned that the fact that we can become potential markets for their products and vice versa is also an important point. We shall have more in common and be able to discuss concerning some of the suitable places in the country where certain industries will thrive better.
RESEARCH AND TEAM WORK: EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES
In this modern day when many countries invest tremendously in research work, it would be a very big gain when Ghana team up with a mentor nation to conduct research concerning many of the products it wants to produce. The research facilities which cost enormous amount of money nowadays cannot be financed by Ghana alone; with mentor nation's help they could explore other possibilities concerning certain products and their marketing strategies.
CONCLUSION
In the past people in different countries had discovered that it was impossible to stand out alone as a country in wartime. Alliance is needed to become strong and deter one's enemies from attacking. The agreement approach has a similar purpose. It recognises the difficulties involved concerning the acquisition of capital and technology to commence on an industrialisation. As a novice nation that genuinely seeks help and partnership with the intention to commence industrialisation, and having at their disposal certain basic resources and capital, it should be possible to have a mentor that can assist and coach this country into becoming well established.
Source: Desmond Ayim-Aboagye (Ph.D.)
PREAMBLE
We have already discussed the necessity of allowing Ghana to have a mentor nation that will coach the people of Ghana how to become industrialised in no time. This is coupled with all the primary efforts being made at home to get the small industries being commenced by Ghanaians as well as foreign nationals. The mentorship will mean that the mentor nation will get involved both financially and physically to aid Ghana overcome all obstacles that will confront them in concerning Ghana becoming an industrialised nation. The idea to entreat the help of a mentor shows that Ghana has the potential and adequate resources to embark on industrialisation. This idea, which is enshrined in the principle of imitation and adaptation, is known as the”agreement approach method.” It provides the mentor nation the power to become involved strenuously in Ghana's industrialisation. The following questions then can be posed concerning this business venture being proposed: What will this mentor nation bring to this business venture? What advantages exist in securing a mentor nation in our attempt to become an industrialised nation in the near future?
BOOST INVESTOR CONFIDENCE
There is no question about the fact that securing a mentor nation to become actively involved in our industrialisation will boost the confidence in investors to come in and invest in numbers in this country which has a rich cultural history. The inability to have something that will tell these interested individuals and co-operations that we are reliable people in a peaceful country such as Ghana, has been one of the weaknesses that impeded the progress of our nation. It has had to do with military dictatorships and other minor vices, such as corruption that had had bad influence on people that would like to come and invest in this country. If these investors are aware that a particular nation that had already teamed up with certain countries before and had successfully made industrialisation come to these countries, it will consolidate their faith to enter into the country to become investors or buy assets that will strengthen our economy.
ACCESS TO CAPITAL
It is quite true that at the moment we may be counting on the oil revenue to help us get started, but I also think that, with the coming in of a mentor nation the problem with capital for investors will be lessened. Historically, we have had countries through alliance principle, which is the same as mentorship having invested heavily in their partners' countries. For example, British capital helped the Swedes to work on their iron ore deposits; French capital helped the newly built USA to industrialise; British capital aided South Africa to emerge as an industrialised nation; and British and the French helped many countries in the South America to get started in their industries. Recently, the huge investments made by the USA in South Korea and the enormous investments made by the British in Hong Kong tell us that mentor nations have the capability of assuring Ghana with considerable strength through their investments and their provision of huge capital. This point is very clear and in the case of Ghana, at least they know that they shall have something back to help their country and its people also. Without the help of mentor nation it will be impossible to obtain tremendous investments that had pushed certain countries ahead in their industrialisation. From north to south, from east to west, it has been the work of mentor countries that either entered in the early stages of a particular nation's development or later during their success period. Capital is the biggest problem facing developing countries in their attempt to industrialise and only mentor countries can rescue Ghana and make it get started.
SIGNAL READINESS AND SERIOUSNESS
As soon as Ghana makes it a reality to enlist the help of a mentor nation, it would signal a strong positive sign to the world that it means business with its efforts to become an industrialised nation. Potential investors would flock in with their resources and assets to commence investing in this country. It will show to the world that Ghana means business because the publicity alone helps many countries to surge ahead when they were on the verge of becoming industrialised. We had witnessed the influence of publicity with the industrialisation of countries such as China, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, and many others.
GROWTH LONGEVITY IN MINOR PARTNERS
Of course, the enlisting of help from a mentor nation does not prevent other countries that want to have stronger contacts with Ghana. Many other nations both rich and poor would be more interested in coming into the country to invest or buy assets. But these moves would be largely done because of the credibility of this mentor nation that its presence calls for other potential investors to come in. Through the mentor nation Ghana will secure other business partners who may be willing to invest in this country as well.
BECOME PART OF A GENEROUSLY PROPORTIONED ECONOMY
As mentioned already to enlist the help of a mentor nation it gives Ghana the chance to become part of a larger economy. Certain manufacturing sectors that already exist in the mentor's nation may probably decide to move a daughter company to Ghana, probably to manufacture certain parts of products they manufacture themselves. In the end Ghana will be capable of producing independent spare parts for a big company in the mentor nation. By doing that they shall give Ghana a feel of how it is to become industrialised.
ASSESS STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS
The mentor nation would be in a better position to assess Ghana's weakness and strength and to be able to issue constructive judgements about what to produce and not to produce. Moreover, they shall obtain advice concerning what to manufacture and what should be avoided at the interim. Of course, this function could be done by IMF and other international organs without any problems but someone that has interests in a venture would do better than them.
REMOVAL OF INDUSTRY TO SUITABLE PLACE
Certain industries that a mentor country thinks they would be performing better in Ghana than their own country could be moved here. Of course this will not be done without protest. But it must be mentioned that the fact that we can become potential markets for their products and vice versa is also an important point. We shall have more in common and be able to discuss concerning some of the suitable places in the country where certain industries will thrive better.
RESEARCH AND TEAM WORK: EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES
In this modern day when many countries invest tremendously in research work, it would be a very big gain when Ghana team up with a mentor nation to conduct research concerning many of the products it wants to produce. The research facilities which cost enormous amount of money nowadays cannot be financed by Ghana alone; with mentor nation's help they could explore other possibilities concerning certain products and their marketing strategies.
CONCLUSION
In the past people in different countries had discovered that it was impossible to stand out alone as a country in wartime. Alliance is needed to become strong and deter one's enemies from attacking. The agreement approach has a similar purpose. It recognises the difficulties involved concerning the acquisition of capital and technology to commence on an industrialisation. As a novice nation that genuinely seeks help and partnership with the intention to commence industrialisation, and having at their disposal certain basic resources and capital, it should be possible to have a mentor that can assist and coach this country into becoming well established.
Source: Desmond Ayim-Aboagye (Ph.D.)
"The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Modernghana.com." To have your articles publish, please submit them to editor@modernghana.com.
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