Diaries Of An Oguaa Fisherman: After Talensi, The Ghanaian Worker Is Still A Magician

In the 1980s, the British used to call Ghanaians “magicians” but what they failed to do was to predict how “extraordinary -intelligent” people in Ghana are able to attain the heights of wealth and the managerial acumen they possessed. But today, I am not sure the thinking of the British has changed.

Every now and then, in my life as a fisherman in the ancient capital, I come across a people so epic, so larger-than-life, that my sense of admiration compels me to tell their story. If they are not magicians then I don’t know what they are!

Indeed, the Ghanaian must undeniably have some imperceptible magic wands to continue commanding the unmanageable to become manageable.

In Ghana, there is no single individual who is not managing- all are managers. Management qualifications have been served on the doorstep of every individual- One does not need to be in the lecture theatre for one, two, three or four years before he or she begins to manage.

Workers are labouring, but are barely making a living. Tell me a Ghanaian civil servant whose salary takes him or her home and I will show you a pregnant virgin. How much does an average Ghanaian earn? With all these increments (Fuel, utility tariffs,the romance between the dollar and the cedi), how do they survive?

To be brutally frank, people are starving! It is no joke! And in Ghana, where the family has several expectations of each other, how then do people meet these expectations with what they receive at the end of the month? Robbery or magic?Sorceries or charms?

And in all of these, the stomach, knows neither strike nor a holiday, and so, food must be placed on the tables every morning, afternoon and evening! Hungry mouths look forward to be fed every minute of the hour! Medical bills must be paid! Utilities must be paid! School fees must be paid! Amazing! How does the Ghanaian do that?

This reminds me of a friend of mine who teaches at one of the Senior High Schools in Ghana. He’s paid a salary of one thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢ 1000). He’s married and has three kids. One of the Kids is in the Senior High School, the other is at the University and his wife gave birth to a bouncy baby boy a couple of months ago. He has a 1996 VW Passat he uses. Kweku has to pay a rent advance of two years and so has gone in for a loan of Two thousand Four hundred Cedis (GH¢ 2400). The bank deducts from his salary two hundred Ghana cedis (GH¢ 200) every month to repay the loan. In a month, he spends two hundred Ghana cedis (GH¢ 200) on fuel for his car. Never forget the deductions of the car loan he took from the bank.

Now tell me how Kwekumanages to feed his family; pay the school fees of his children; pay the water and light bills; buy pampers and baby food; and pay medical bills of his family with what is left?

This is a teacher’s analysis I have done. I have not spoken about the fisherman, the cobbler, the iced water seller, the pito seller, the farmer, the fishmonger, the dog chain seller and other people who receive as low as three hundred Ghana cedis (GH¢ 300) a month. I Know you know people who receive as low as One hundred and fifty Ghana cedis (GH¢ 150) at the end of the month. Tell me, if not by magic, by what do you think they are able to pull through till the end of the month?

I know you arenot oblivious of the fact that fuel prices and other prices have been increased hugely without the corresponding increases in the salaries of workers. How then do they reconcile the differences between the two to enable them survive?

And the disheartening statement that has ever ferried from the mouth of a politician is what came from the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, James Avedzi. I was shocked to know that he had the guts to say managers of Ghana's economy cannot take the flak for the high cost of living in the country- Perhaps; it is the fishermen at Oguaa who should take the flak the ‘Intensive Care Unit’ the economy finds itself.

For him to have said that government has given workers enough money under the Single Spine and must be able to pay for their own electricity and fuel under the new no subsidy policy being implemented by government was really unfair. Chinua Achebe refers to such persons in his ‘Things Fall Apart’ book as persons whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit and such persons should not forget to be humble.

If this man were to wear the shoes of Kweku, my teacher friend and his likes, he would have known how certain words kill the souls of the tax payer. But he is not under the single spine, so he can afford to utter such words.

Ever wondered why the Akans call our governments, ‘Aban’ meaning Castle- The symbol of slavery and the seat of the colonial administrators which ironically is the seat of government now?

The slavery continues unabated. The politician finds monies to pay his allowances but does not find money to pay the Ghanaian worker very well. Have you ever wondered why Parliament remains undivided during the discussion of their emolument and gratuities? Think about it.

How do you feel being a manager in a private company who does not pay his or her workers very well?You might be the reason why many have turned into thieves and robbers and are tormenting society and breaking many hearts. And such managers go to church and preach ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself’?

How do we fight corruption with such magicians? Why won’t they do anything to enable them survive?

In the Talensi Bye-Elections, the politicians made it look as if the people there mattered to them. Constructions akin to a quickie between a man and woman were done; monies were flaunted; other stuffs were distributed; and the politicians played the game of ‘bare- chestedness’. In fact, they were ready to change the sex of a goat, if the voters so requested.

But after the elections, the magicians in the Ghanaian will still be at play. In fact, when the magic of the politician ceases, the magic of the Ghanaian worker starts.

The writer, Richard Kwadwo Nyarko, is a Broadcast journalist, with JOY 99.7 FM. Email: [email protected] . Like my Facebook page, Richard Kwadwo Nyarko. Twitter: @quajo2009