Moving Ghana From Bitter Lives to Better Futures. Changing the socio-economic status of Ghanaians.

Ghana is a land of promise. From the cocoa fields of the Ashanti and Western Regions to the gold mines of Obuasi and the oil reserves of the Western Corridor, the nation is rich in natural resources. Yet, the paradox remains: those who power Ghana’s economy live bitter lives, while those who manage it enjoy the benefits.

This social gap is not just economic—it’s moral, structural and deeply personal.

Cocoa Farmers: Bitter Beans, Sweet Profits—for Others. Ghana’s cocoa farmers produce one of the world’s most cherished commodities, yet many earn less than $2 a day. Executives at the Ghana Cocoa Board and political appointees enjoy travel allowances, air-conditioned offices and political prestige, while farmers like Matthew Ackah, Philip Anane and Holiata Ibrahim struggle to feed their families and rarely own a car to reflect their contribution to the economy.

The Living Income Differential (LID) introduced in 2019 was meant to bridge this gap. But reports show that over 90% of farmers still earn below the living income benchmark, and many chocolate companies resist paying the premium. The value chain is stacked against the farmer—raw beans are exported, profits are made abroad, and the farmer remains at the bottom.

Teachers: Builders of Dreams, Left Behind. Teachers shape the minds of future leaders, yet many retire without owning a car or a home. They raise presidents, CEOs, and ministers—but are rarely celebrated or compensated accordingly. In Ghana, it’s not uncommon for a teacher to earn less than a junior political aide. The irony is painful, those who teach the leaders are not treated like leaders.

Military Personnel: Serving Without Status. I had my best car the very day I joined the United States military. Ghanaian police officers, soldiers, and other service personnel often struggle to afford basic vehicles like a Toyota Corolla. Meanwhile, parliamentarians enjoy fleets of V8, SUVs and the like. This imbalance distorts the social status of those who risk their lives to protect the nation.

Natural Wealth, National Poverty. Obuasi and Tarkwa are home to gold and Ahanta West district of Agona Ahanta is the home of oil, the resources that should transform communities. Yet, many residents live without clean water, decent roads or reliable healthcare. The wealth extracted from their soil rarely returns to their pockets to transform their economic lives. This is not just an economic failure—it’s a leadership failure.

Import Duties: The Price of Mobility. Ghana does not produce cars, yet import duties at Tema Harbor often exceed the actual cost of the vehicle. A used car bought abroad may be affordable, but the cumulative charges—duties, VAT, levies—can make it unaffordable to clear. This bitter reality affects teachers, farmers, traders, chiefs, religious leaders, nurses, and everyday citizens who simply want to move with dignity.

Policy Advice On Car Importation and Duties: Any car bought abroad should attract no more than one-third its purchase price in duties. This would promote vehicle ownership, ease mobility and stimulate economic activity. More cars inportation means more revenue generation.

Time to Rethink and Reconsider. The bitter lives of Ghana’s working class are not inevitable. They are the result of policy choices, leadership gaps and misplaced priorities. To close the social gap, Ghana must: Ensure fair compensation for farmers, teachers and frontline workers like military personnels. Decentralize resource benefits so mining and oil towns see real development and economic life transformation.

Depoliticize institutions like COCOBOD and empower technocrats. Celebrate and reward educators with housing, transport and living pension reforms. At least a teachers’ pension should be half one MP’s ex-gratia.

Invest in local value chains to keep profits within Ghana. Promote the production of cars in Ghana and the manufacturability of turning raw matterials into finished products for export. Create transparency in resource management and public spending. Reduce the burden on the citizens. Build a culture of equity, where dignity is not reserved for the elite.

From Bitter to Better: Seven Ways Forward on Import Duties

Cap Total Import Charges Set a ceiling—say 35–40% of CIF—to prevent duties from exceeding the car’s value. Every car’s duty can be one-third the cost of it.
Reintroduce Benchmark Discounts Restore age-based discounts for used vehicles to make them more affordable.
Simplify and Merge Levies Consolidate overlapping taxes into fewer, transparent categories.
Digitize Customs Valuation Use real-time VIN-based valuation tools to ensure fair and consistent pricing.
Support Local Assembly Without Penalizing Imports Encourage domestic car production without punishing citizens who can only afford used imports.
Expand Duty Exemptions for Essential Vehicles Offer relief for teachers, nurses, farmers ordinary Ghanaian and SMEs importing vehicles for work and mobility. No Ghanaian should pay more in taxes than the value of the car they’re importing.
Engage Stakeholders in Reform Include importers, clearing agents, and civil society in shaping a fairer duty regime.

Now From Bitter to Better.
Ghana’s greatness will not be measured by its exports or GDP, but by how it treats those who make those numbers possible. Cocoa farmers, teachers, miners, and nurses deserve more than survival, they deserve prosperity. Let Ghanaians feel and live better not bitter. Reforming the lives of Ghanaians isn’t just economic, it’s about dignity, mobility and opportunity.

Let the nation rise and Make Ghana Great Again, not just in wealth, but in wisdom, fairness, and compassion.

By
Gaddiel R. Ackah
[email protected]

U.S. Navy veteran. Lives in U.S.A.
Social Advocate for economic independence and ethical leadership. His work spans education, business, leadership and creative arts, making him a multifaceted influencer.

Author of Many Leadership and Inspiring Books.