Ghana Beyond Aid: A Misplaced Direction

Author: Solomon Solari Sarpong

I received with shock on Wednesday on a news circulating on social media purporting that Mensgold has also been shutdown. At the initial stage I doubted, untill haven read from several print and elcetronic media to confirm this. This information got me thinking and as I sat in the corner of my room, I begun to wonder whether we are really serious as a nation.

To begin with, there is no doubt that one of our major challenges we are facing as a nation that is persistently putting as back is the absence of Visionary and transformational leadership . Leaders who will at all cost sacrifice their tomorrow for the next generation to have a better place in the world.

Come to think of it, why would a government intend to collapse the ordinary citizenry businesses when government don't have plans to provide solutions for them. Government streams of income is gradually narrowing as a result of poor implementation of such policies. If we put down all private institutions by our local business men and women because of one reason or the other, have we gained something profitable out of it, when government is constantly and persistently seeking for huge sums of loans to even pay off salaries and other critical issues confronting our dear nation Ghana.

For the past few months, I have followed the media keenly and between May to August 2018, about 10,285 Ghanaian men and women have lost their jobs. This is unprecedented in the history of our dear nation Ghana. Collapsing of businesses is on the rise and abnormal borrowings have been the order of the day. The youth are now convinced that Government don't have the interest and future of the next generation at heart.

Why would a country like Ghana after all the resources we have sell ourselves to the chinese for us to be enslaved just because of a 50billion dollar which is due to be paid in 100years. Ghana Beyond Aid indeed, there is no doubt that Ghana have misplaced its sense of direction. Adding to this, many businesses have collapsed as a result of government inability to come out with strong ideas to help save the local investor to compete very well in this difficult times, yet we go around preaching that Ghana is halfway through achieving such objective.

Moving forward , I believe strongly that Ghana Beyond Aid can run smoothly when government thinks of widening the tax net so more revenue can be collated to help speed up our developmental projects( Certain laws needs to be revised to meet the changing demands of the economy. Eg includes NSS Act needs to be revised to make it optional for personnels. People who would want to avoid the service can be made to pay a fee which can also support other sectors of the economy instead of government funding it solely and struggling with monetary issues).

Again mechanism should be laid to support the ordinary local investors to compete very well in such a competitive environment we find ourselves. This can be achieved by giving local business investors more of tax holidays and subsidies at the expense of the foreign businesses so they can feel comfortable working in their own country and to some large extent reduce unemployment in our country

To end it, Ghana Beyond Aid can be achievable untill our attitudes as leaders reflect our actions. May God save mother Ghana as we struggle through this misery life.

Mr Solomon Solari Sarpong
(Youth Advocate and a Social Commentator)