After interacting with students of the two nursing and midwifery training colleges in the Ellembelle Constituenucy, I proceeded to Ayinase to interact with market women, traders, shoppers, commercial drivers and the general public.
I told the women about NDC presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama’s strong commitment to empowering women financially.
As part of this commitment, the next NDC government will establish. Women’s Development Bank to offer loans to about one million women with flexible repayment terms. This will be a big boost to women in various self-employed business as well as those in the corporate world.
I also assured the people that we will use our 8th position on the ballot paper to break their 8 and to break corruption, nepotism, state capture, poor quality education and poor governance, among others.
By: Samuel Yaw Adusei
In a thought-provoking piece, former Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Yaw Adusei, delves into the ongoing debate on whether Ghana’s economic fundamentals under the current administration need an upgrade or a complete reset.
The former deputy minister contrasts the literal interpretations of “reset” and “upgrade” to highlight the critical differences between these approaches and argues that Ghana’s current economic situation calls for a reset rather than an upgrade.
Hon.Samuel Yaw Adusei
Understanding the Fundamentals
Hon. Yaw Adusei begins by referencing the famous statement by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President of Ghana, who once declared, “if the fundamentals are weak, the exchange rate will expose you.” This statement, Adusei notes, pointed directly to the economic fundamentals of the country.
He then revisits the economic indicators at the time Dr. Bawumia made this statement, emphasizing that while the fundamentals then were not perfect, they were relatively stable compared to the current situation.
In 2016, Ghana’s total debt stood at GHC 120 billion, the exchange rate was $1 to GHC 4, the unemployment rate was 8.5%, agriculture growth was 2.7%, and the Debt-to-GDP ratio was 55.6%.
Additionally, the country had significant accruals in its Sinking, Stabilization, and Infrastructure Funds, and annual cocoa production was robust at 969,000 metric tonnes.
The IMF had even projected the economy to grow at 8% in 2017, based on these fundamentals.
The Current Economic Landscape
Fast forward to 2024, and Adusei paints a starkly different picture. Ghana’s total debt has ballooned to GHC 742 billion, the exchange rate has plummeted to $1 to GHC 16, and the unemployment rate has risen to 15%.
Agriculture growth has slowed to 0.7%, inflation has soared to over 20%, and annual cocoa production has dropped to 580,000 metric tonnes.
Moreover, the government has introduced several new taxes, such as the e-levy, COVID levy, and emission levy, further straining the population amid rising living costs and increasing inequality.
Yaw Adusei points out that the economy, which was projected to grow at 8% in 2017, is now only expected to grow at 5.4% in 2025. These figures, he argues, clearly show that the economic fundamentals under Dr. Bawumia and Nana Akufo Addo’s government have not only deteriorated but have exposed the administration’s failure to manage the economy effectively.
Fiscal Vulnerabilities and Reckless Spending
The former deputy Ashanti regional minister does not hold back in his criticism of the current administration’s fiscal policies, labeling them as reckless.
He cites excessive borrowing and inadequate revenue generation as key factors that have led to fiscal vulnerabilities.
By 2022, Ghana’s fiscal deficit had reached 12% of GDP, leading to a suspension of funding for future projects and the halting of many ongoing projects across the country.
In response to these fiscal challenges, the government resorted to the Domestic Debt Exchange Program, which Adusei describes as “demonizing” for future investors due to the ‘haircuts’ imposed on domestic debt holders.
He also criticizes the “shady” Gold for Oil (G4O) program, which was introduced to stabilize the cedi but failed to achieve its intended purpose.
Reset: The Only Viable Option
Given the current state of Ghana’s economy, Yaw Adusei argues that a simple upgrade of the existing economic fundamentals is not sufficient.
He contends that the fundamentals are not formidable but rather dysfunctional and defective.
Therefore, a reset—changing the system to correct these flaws—is the only viable option to rebuild Ghana’s economy and steer it towards sustainable growth.
Mr. Adusei concludes by advocating for change, emphasizing that only a reset can address the deep-seated economic challenges facing Ghana today.
According to him, this reset is crucial for building the Ghana that all citizens aspire to, and it is a responsibility that cannot be overlooked.
Conclusion
Samuel Yaw Adusei’s analysis presents a compelling argument for why Ghana’s economic fundamentals require more than just an upgrade.
He highlights the significant deterioration in key economic indicators under the current administration and calls for a comprehensive reset to correct the systemic issues that have led to the country’s current economic woes.
The former deputy minister of works and housing’s commentary serves as a clarion call for policymakers and citizens alike to recognize the need for change and to take decisive action to rebuild the economy from the ground up.
In this world, words matter. You can only discern someone’s intention from what they say. Most of us have mobile phones, and we know what these two words mean.
RESETTING : When you reset your phone, all your contacts and important information are lost. The phone goes back to its factory default settings.
UPGRADING : When you upgrade the software on your phone, it means you are adding improved features and other products to your device. You are making the phone better. No existing information or contacts is lost.
I have provided these two explanations to help you understand when the NDC tells you they are RESETTING GHANA. We know that a reset will take everything back to factory default. To the NDC, the factory default is December 2016, when Mahama was last the president.
They do not see anything good in Ghana over the past 7 years, so they want to Reset Ghana.
When they Reset Ghana, what does that mean? Cancellation of Free SHS, stopping the digitization agenda which has simplified our lives, to mention a few.
The choice for Ghanaians is between Dr. Bawumia, who wants to Upgrade Ghana with his Manifesto, or Former President Mahama, who wants to Reset Ghana.
MY 15 TAKEAWAYS FROM THE LAUNCH OF THE 2024 NDC YOUTH MANIFESTO- THE PLEDGE!:
24-HOUR ECONOMY (formula 1:3:3); Same job, three shifts, three people.
The National Apprenticeship Program:
A policy aimed at enrolling young persons with senior craftsmen to be trained in various crafts and vocations FOR FREE. Trained apprentice will be issued with a certificate at the end of their training and supported with start up equipment and funds to set up their own businesses.
We shall roll out the “Adwumawura” program:
This will be a special start-up policy, aimed at facilitating the creation, tracking and mentoring of a minimum of 10,000 businesses by young people every year.
We will improve the FREE SHS program by:
providing a dedicated and sustainable source of funding for the program
abolishing the dreaded double-track system thereby ensuring that all SHS students go to school and vacate at the same time
including private SHS in the coverage of the Free SHS program
decentralizing the procurement of food.
NO FEES STRESS (FREE TERTIARY EDUCATION FOR LEVEL 100s)
The next NDC/Mahama government, will fully absorb the academic fees of all new entrants into public tertiary institutions (Universities, Colleges of Education, Nursing Training Colleges etc.) starting from the year, 2025.
SIMPLY PUT, LEVEL 100 STUDENTS IN PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS WILL NOT PAY ANY ACADEMIC FEES, EFFECTIVE JANUARY, 2025.
Per the rough estimates put out by Eduwatch, this policy will cost the government about GHS275 million.
The next NDC/Mahama government will finance this by cutting down the outrageous GHS2 billion expenditure of the Office of Government Machinery.
We shall reintroduce and redeploy the Student Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) Plus to support continuing students in public tertiary institutions.
The entry point is the most difficult period for tertiary students and parents, hence our decision to cushion them by fully absorbing academic fees. Beyond that, continuing students can access the SLTF Plus which we will be re-introducing and redeploying to support their fees payment.
BED-FOR-ALL
We shall partner the private sector to develop accommodation facilities on the campuses of all public tertiary institutions to address the “in-out-out-out” policy by providing affordable bed spaces for students on campus.
FREE TERTIARY EDUCATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY.
We shall provide free tertiary education for all persons with disability who are admitted into public tertiary institutions.
We shall cancel the obnoxious Licensure exams for trained teachers and incorporate their licensing examination in their final year examination in school.
We shall once again scrap the quota system for admissions into nursing and teacher training colleges to expand students’ enrollment.
Above all, we shall ensure the prompt posting of trained nurses, trained health professionals in general and trained teachers. The days of automatic employment for trained teachers, nurses and other health professionals is coming back.
ONE MILLION CODERS PROGRAM:
We shall train one million young people in coding and in-demand supply digital skills for the growing BPO and KPO ecosystems.
We shall launch a Digital Jobs Initiative that will ensure a $3 billion investment into ICT for the creation of a minimum of 300,000 jobs.
PLC/SEC
We shall promote Prior Learning Certification (PLC) /Set-Up certification (SEC) to facilitate and support artisans in the informal sector to validate and improve their skills and knowledge for academic and career progression.
MO-NE-YO
We shall introduce an insurance scheme known as MO-NE-YO to provide special pension schemes for informal sector workers such as commercial drivers, farmers, fishermen, traders, market women, artisans among others, to improve their livelihood in retirement.
John Mahama’s Questionable Return and the Unexplained 24-Hour Economy Policy: Why Ghanaians Should Choose Leadership with Real Solutions
John Dramani Mahama, a seasoned politician in Ghana, has previously served as both Vice President and President. As the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), he is once again vying for the highest office in the land. However, Ghanaians should approach his candidacy with caution, particularly because of the ambiguities surrounding his party’s much-touted 24-hour economy policy.
Godfred Osei Bimpong
The Elusive 24-Hour Economy Policy
The NDC, under Mahama’s leadership, has proposed a 24-hour economy policy aimed at revitalizing Ghana’s economic landscape. Despite its appealing name, the policy remains shrouded in mystery and lacks clear, actionable details.
Mahama and his team have struggled to articulate how this policy will function, what specific changes it will bring, and how it will be implemented to benefit the average Ghanaian. This vagueness raises serious concerns about the feasibility and effectiveness of the policy.
Mahama’s Track Record: A Precursor to Future Failures
During his previous tenure as President, Mahama faced significant criticism for his handling of the economy. Issues such as corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of transparency plagued his administration. The question arises: what has changed since then? Mahama’s return to power could spell disaster for Ghana, repeating past mistakes and further entrenching the nation in economic turmoil.
Lack of Solutions to Current Economic Crises
One of the most glaring shortcomings of Mahama’s campaign is his failure to offer concrete solutions to the pressing economic challenges facing Ghana today. While he is quick to criticize the current administration, he has not presented a viable plan to address inflation, unemployment, or other related crises the NDC has been preaching. His rhetoric lacks substance, leaving Ghanaians to wonder if he has any real strategies to improve their livelihoods.
The Better Alternative: Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh
In stark contrast, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh represent a beacon of hope for Ghana. Both leaders have demonstrated a commitment to practical, innovative solutions to the country’s economic woes. Dr. Bawumia, with his extensive background in economics, has consistently provided well-researched and actionable plans to stabilize and grow the economy. His focus on digitization and financial inclusion has already begun transforming sectors and improving efficiency.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, with his expertise in education and public administration, complements Bawumia’s economic vision. Together, they offer a balanced, forward-thinking approach to governance that prioritizes sustainable development, job creation, and improved public services.
Choose Progress Over Regression
As Ghanaians head to the polls, it is crucial to remember the lessons of the past and the promises of the future. John Mahama’s inability to explain his 24-hour economy policy and his lack of solutions for current economic problems make his candidacy a risky gamble. On the other hand, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh present a clear, solution-oriented path forward.
Ghana deserves leadership that is not only visionary but also capable of executing plans that bring tangible benefits. Voting for Dr. Bawumia and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh Napo is a vote for progress, stability, and a brighter future for all Ghanaians.
On Saturday, 27th July 2024, I was the Special Guest Speaker at the Ghana Student Leaders Awards held at the Accra Tourist Information Center. In my address,
I emphasized the importance of integrity, service, honesty, and self-sacrifice to the student leaders and Ghanaian youth in attendance.
Hon.Kwabena Asamoah Nkansah,Dep.MASLOC Dep.CEO
I encouraged them to embrace these values, which have the potential to bring about transformative change in their sphere of influence. The youth, as the next generation, must aspire to do more. In attendance were the CEO of Petroleum Hub Company,
Some scenes from the event
Mr. Charles Owusu; the Head of Monitoring and Evaluation for YEA, Madam Ophelia Prempeh. Congratulations to all the nominees and award winners.
#Obidombie
#Leadership
#ghanastudentsleadersawards
Some incorrect funeral-related expressions have become very common and popular in the Ghanaian society.
I would, therefore, like to highlight and correct them to set the record straight. Mediocrity in both oral and written English should not be encouraged.
To start, I cannot fathom why the noun ‘obituary’ is commonly written as titles on funeral posters and billboards in the country. Are we not doing the wrong thing?
The Oxford Dictionary defines obituary as ‘an article about somebody’s life and achievements, that is printed in a newspaper soon after they have died’.
File photo
Based on this definition, I think it is wrong to run funeral posters and billboards under the title ‘Obituary’. These posters and billboards usually announce funeral arrangements.
The following funeral-related expressions are incorrect:
Laying in state
The correct expression is ‘lying in state’. Besides, it is incorrect to hyphenate it, as in ‘lying-in-state’.
The original expression is ‘lie in state’ which means ‘to place the dead body of an important person on view in a public place before being buried’.
The progressive tense of the verb ‘to lie’ is ‘lying’ and not ‘laying’. ‘Laying’ is the progressive tense of the verb ‘to lay’ which usually functions transitively. In other words, it takes an object. Eg: Relatives are laying wreaths on the grave.
This mistake (laying in state) is commonly found on posters and billboards that announce funeral arrangements.
One-week observation
We should rather say or write ‘One-week observance’.
Observation is the act of watching somebody or something carefully for a period of time, while observance is an act performed as part of a religious or traditional ceremony.
Based on their respective definitions, ‘One-week observance’ is correct, while ‘One-week observation’ is incorrect.
One-week celebration
Another common mistake is ‘One-week celebration’. We normally celebrate an event with joy, not sorrow.
In fact, losing a relative forever is very painful; hence, the funeral of a relative is a sorrowful event which does not call for a celebration.
Call to Glory
The correct expression is ‘Called to Glory’. Instead of writing ‘he or she has been called to glory’, we simply write ‘Called to Glory’.
Similarly, instead of writing ‘he or she has gone too soon’, we simply write ‘Gone too Soon’, not ‘Go too Soon’ like ‘Call to Glory’.
‘Called’ and ‘gone’ are the past participles of the verbs ‘to call’ and ‘to go’ respectively. Logically, the past participles of the verbs should be used in both expressions.
The expression ‘A Call to Glory’ is also correct. In this expression, ‘Call’ is a noun and not a verb.
Last respect
The correct expression is ‘last respects’. Don’t forget to add an ‘s’ to ‘respect’. We show respect but pay respects.
This expression is an idiom, and it means ‘to show one’s respect or affection for someone who has just died by coming to see his or her body or grave’. Eg: He came from Germany to Ghana to pay his last respects (not: respect) to his father.
Wake-keeping
The following sentence is incorrect: There will be no wake-keeping. The correct expression is ‘wake’ and not ‘wake-keeping’; omit ‘keeping’.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, wake is an occasion before or after a funeral when people gather to remember the dead person, traditionally held the night before the funeral, to watch over the body before it is buried.
Internment
The correct word is ‘interment’. Due to the similar spellings of ‘internment’ and ‘interment’, many mistake ‘internment’ for ‘interment’ on funeral posters and billboards.
Interment is the act of burying a dead person, while internment is the act of putting someone in prison for political or military reasons, especially during a war, as in: he was threatened with internment in a concentration camp.
Francois writes;
On Tuesday, 23rd July 2024, I continued my presentation of motorbikes to various constituencies to facilitate party works as we galvanize the base for elections 2024. On behalf of the NPP National Organizer, Lawyer Henry Nana Boakye, I presented these motorbikes to Adansi Asokwa and Adansi Akrofuom Constituencies respectively
Francis Adomako aka Francois making presentation on behalf of National Organizer, Henry Nana Boakye aka Nana B
The motorbikes, which were presented to the Constituency Organizers in the presence of other Constituency executives forms part of the National Organizers’ series of programs to resource the Constituency Organizers for effective mobilization in their respective Constituencies.
Some scenes from the Donation ceremony
Similar gestures had already been extended to the Orphan Constituencies within the Region, and many more are expected to follow as we near the general elections in December.
The Constituency executives expressed their profound gratitude to the National Organizer and the National party leadership for this kind gesture, stressing on how useful these motorbikes will be to their campaigns
Francis Adomako(Francois)
NPP Ashanti Regional Organizer
Breakingthe8
Bro, Onasis Rosely, I am glad that after all your considerations, you opted to go for a payment plan with T-mobile instead of paying the full cost of about $1000 plus. Your fear was that if you opted for the Plan you were going to end up paying more (you put this around $3000 plus) over the life of the Plan instead of the $1000 plus spot payment today.
Do you know why you still opted for the payment plan, which is similar to what Vice President Bawumia is proposing for Ghana? A few reasons:
Dr Gideon Boako
First, it could be that you don’t have ready $1000 cash to pay for the phone now. This is the case for many people. We have tastes and preferences that our current income positions are not able to support.
It is akin to the situation of that young university graduate who is in the business of trading on IG or any of the social media platforms and needs gadgets to take good and sharp pictures of her products but is handicapped financially. What is the option for such a person? I am sure he/she will prefer having the opportunity you have in the USA to get these gadgets and pay, say GHc5 a month spread over some months.
The profits he/she makes from the business will be able to pay off the Plan over its lifetime. Otherwise that person would have to remain unemployed for until the period he/she is able to accumulate the bulk amount of about GHc15,000 to get those gadgets.
The second reason why you opted for the Plan is because of the principle of Time Value of Money (TVM).
This principle suggests that an amount of money today is worth more than it’s identical value tomorrow (in the future). Come to think of this: how I wished my father or grandfather was able to secure a loan in the 80s to purchase hotel in the prime areas of Accra or London and the cost of the loan spread over 50 years for his generations to pay.
At the time in the 80s interest rate on such a value that could potentially buy a hotel in prime areas of Accra or London could possibly be around $100 (GHc1500) per month. Such money could mean something in the 80s but today what is $100 or GHc1500 that I cannot easily cough out in exchange for a hotel that will earn me millions? This is possible because of the principle of time value of money.
The financial impact of paying the same amount in the future reduces over time, thereby lessening your burden. This is how Great Britain financed most of their infrastructure in centuries past using Consols (perpetual bonds) in the 1700s and 1800s which have been redeemed anyway.
The third reason why you opted for the payment Plan is the potential earnings you could make on the $1000 today and over time if you invested it instead of using it to pay for the phone now.
Many people will prefer to defer payment now to a latter date and invest the money today to earn income on it in the future in anticipation that a favorable net return on their investment in the future is sufficiently high to offset both the preference to spending money now and inflation.
This works perfectly under the principle of the paradox of thrift.
There is a fourth reason which I may not share because people who do so are cruelly minded. They usually do so because of the possibility of diminishing marginal utility for consuming a product over time. We can look at that sometime later.
So, in all angles you made the right choice based on your circumstances and understanding of the dynamics on paying for the phone now as against opting for a payment plan.
What Vice President Bawumia is advocating to implement gives you both options to make outright payment now, if you think you have the means and that works for you, or get a payment plan to use the product now and pay in bits over a period of time.
There is so much wisdom in this, especially for young people who want to start-up and those of us who don’t have heavy pockets today.
This is a pro-poor policy and it will benefit the have-nots in Ghana.
I subscribe to a robust Credit Scoring System and efficient digital payments architecture.
In recent times, there has been a concerning trend where some journalists resort to using insults as a basis for criticism, typical examples are Captain Smart of Onua TV, power fm ,TV XYZ ,Black Rasta, etc , a practice that runs counter to the established code of conduct of the profession. Journalism, at its core, is built on principles of integrity, accuracy, fairness, and respect.
When these principles are compromised, it not only tarnishes the reputation of the individual journalist but also undermines public trust in the media as a whole.
GODFRED OSEI BIMPONG
The National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) have historically been quick to issue press statements defending their members when they come under attack.
This protective stance is essential to ensure that journalists can perform their duties without fear of reprisal. However, it is equally important for these bodies to hold their members accountable when they are the ones perpetrating attacks, especially when such attacks are made on public personalities through television or radio.
To maintain the credibility and professionalism of journalism,
it is imperative that the NMC and GJA take proactive steps to address this issue. They should not only condemn the use of insults and personal attacks in the media but also implement strict regulatory measures to curb such behavior.
This includes setting clear guidelines on professional conduct, providing regular training and workshops on ethical journalism, and instituting disciplinary actions for those who violate these standards.
An appeal is made to the NMC and GJA to regulate the profession more rigorously and to ensure that all members adhere to the highest standards of journalism.
By promoting professional conduct and discouraging unprofessional behavior, these bodies can help restore public confidence in the media and uphold the integrity of the journalistic profession.
