If the ‘New Economy’ is not yet another convoluted framing, what is it?

In the past, and in recent times, politicians, in their ravenous desire for power, have unfortunately been bombarding Ghanaians with jargonistic vocabularies, pretentious framing, and malapropian phraseologies, ostensibly replete with vague meanings without substance.

Ghanaians, in the past, did not see any meaningful impact in politicians nebulous framings such as ‘Better Agenda’, ‘People matter, you matter’, ‘We care for you’, ’24-hour economy’, ‘1,3,3 shift work’.

The most recent ambiguous framing, the 24-hour economy of 1,3,3 shift work has not come into fruition. It is still asphyxiating in the pipeline.

The ‘Big Push’, President Mahama’s beautiful brainchild, designed to improving the road network in Ghana, is unfortunately not pushing in the right direction, if the reports are anything to go by.

The Mahama administration is reportedly been resorting to sole source contracts under their much-touted ‘Big Push’ projects.

The Mahama administration, disappointingly, has given about 81 out of 107 road projects to contractors to the tune of GH73 billion on sole sourcing since assuming office, with an uninspiring excuse that it is not unconstitutional.

The overarching question then is: was single/sole source unlawful during the erstwhile NPP administration?

Somehow, the vineyard news has it that the 24-hour economy has undergone metamorphosis, rechristened, and assumed a new nomenclature, known as the ‘the New Economy’.

In their consuming desire to return to the Jubilee House, in 2024, the then NDC flagbearer, President John Dramani Mahama and his brassbound NDC supporters gleefully gave all sorts of lofty and richly interesting, albeit unachievable promises, among other things, the illusory 24-hour economy of ‘1,3,3’ shift work.

Truth is, some of our politicians just can’t help manipulating. Ghanaian politics is indeed destitute of honesty and integrity.

In spite of the fact that the 24-hour economy is more or less a free market economy which draws its strength from the all-important supply and demand with minimal or no government interference, President Mahama and NDC operatives somehow managed to hoodwink the unsuspecting voters in believing that it is a sustainable policy.

Truth is, no government on planet earth can legislate, coerce business owners, or have total control over a 24-hour economy.

Regrettably, as I write, the much-trumpeting 24-hour economy of ‘1,3,3’ shift work promised by President John Dramani Mahama has not been honoured.

It appears that some politicians do not care about the plight of the masses; they only scramble for power in order to pursue their vested interests.

We are, more often than not, been relying on negligent officials whose preoccupation is to sink the nation deeper and deeper into the mire through unpardonable incompetence and unbridled corruption.

Unfortunately, we, Ghanaians, are possessed with grovelling characteristic of a slavish mind which hates anything quality, and, we rather prefer to worship mediocrity.

As such, our leaders, having the first-hand knowledge of our servile compliance, continue to take us for granted and keep offering perfunctory leadership.

I have always insisted that governance is a serious business and as such it requires forward thinking, serious and committed group of people to bring about the needed advancement.

It is quite disturbing that after nearly seventy years of independence, Ghana, unfortunately, continues to lag behind the rest of the pack in terms of the socio-economic advancement.

Isn’t it pathetic that we have abundant natural resources, and yet we have to heavily rely on loans for survival?

I do not want to be seen as a pathetic doomsayer, far from it. But so long as we continue to rely on the dreadful economic managers (like those who can ‘fecklessly’ lose a staggering GH22billion on gold trading) to take charge of affairs, I’m afraid, Ghana may not see any meaningful development in our lifetime.

Indeed, it is quite unfortunate that in the name of gold trading, some people can recklessly and facilely throw away a massive GH22billion, which could have completed the all-important Accra to Kumasi road, a number of Agenda 111 hospitals would have benefited, and some unemployed Nurses and Teachers would have found themselves in the public service.

After ridiculously throwing away such a huge amount, we then turn around and go for meagre loans to finance our projects. How bizarre?

Regrettably, year after year, the Auditor General’s report would uncover some damning scandals such as the gargantuan GH22billion Gold Purchase Programme losses. Nevertheless, the successive governments more often than not would turn a blind eye to the unpardonable scandals, and the suspects would get away with murder.

How can we make any meaningful advancement as a nation when the incompetent, careless, selfish, greedy, and corrupt politicians and other public servants continue to waste our resources as if there is no tomorrow?

Ghana, as a matter of fact, needs patriotic and selfless men and women with the unparalleled wisdom of the Biblical Solomon and the enviable intelligence of the tiny ant to successfully steer the nation in the right direction.

We need a true leadership with vision and ideas, altruistic leadership devoid of corruption, greed, Incompetence and capable of transforming us into an industrialized and robust economy.

May God bless our homeland Ghana!
K. Badu, UK.
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