Queen Elizabeth II: A Ruler of the Times

 

“Why is everyone talking about this lady?” My youthful in-law is awed by the huge impact of the death of Queen Elizabeth II in global news. I explained to her that the Queen had been hugely historical, coming from a stock that once controlled a quarter of the globe through imperial, colonial power, reduced to fourteen countries currently under her headship. The fascination increased as I explained the Queen’s oversight of the Commonwealth, through which the current independent states continuously receive diverse benefits from the former colonizer.

A mother and beneficiary of the Free Maternal Aid from Britain, the youngster quickly grasped my explanation that after gaining independence, the Queen’s country has continued to support Ghana in Grants and Aid. Indeed, the Commonwealth has heavily supported education among Ghanaians who study overseas. It supports not only learners, but the nucleus family as well, many of which beneficiaries refuse to return to the country to help, thereby, defeating the purpose of the Commonwealth Scholarship. 

The conversation also reminded me of a question that has nestled in my heart throughout my growing years and postcolonial studies. How did the Queen feel about those former colonies that fervently wrenched their independence from Britain but have not really managed their resources for economic autonomy, as they so boisterously claimed in pre-independence days? The uncertainty describing the period after independence as (post)colonial or postcolonial highlights the blur regarding the pastness of the past, in academia as in geo-politics. 

A more crucial question is how the former colonized have utilized their independence to further human interests. Most of African independence fighters promptly became local colonizers as soon as the foreign colonizer left. Contemporary Ghanaian society is smirched with layered forms of degradation in human rights. In many domestic spaces, young girls labelled “maid servants” are treated in dehumanizing ways. Rapacious Parents molest their children, even sell them into child labour. State structures established and paid to protect and improve human rights are nauseously intrepid, hence, focus strays from human to wealth. Betrayal from a foreigner does not cut as deep as betrayal from one’s own.

Therefore, in mourning the Queen of England, we also ponder on our responsibility and/or complicity in (mis)handling natural, infrastructural and human resources. Objective analyses of management of resource in pre-colonial, colonial and (post)colonial days would constitute effective guide. We should also seriously contemplate our failure in making education work to maximum benefits, the growing superficiality in fixating on certification instead of nurturing knowledge and skills which enable effective utilization of resources for genuine independence.

Honouring the Ruler

The globality of the mourning is itself a history, violent past, nations within the commonwealth fighting to localize state headship, notwithstanding. Indeed, through her quiet but gritty leadership, Queen Elizabeth II symbolized stability through tumultuous changing times. Respectfully, Ghana, India, others are flying their flags half-mast for a week. One national reported that Hong Kong has not mourned any of its past leaders in the heightened manner they are mourning the Queen.

Even in Belfast where the struggle to leave the UK is quite fierce, the statesman who proclaimed the Kinship of H.M Charles III eulogized the late Queen as “a lady who has contributed so much to the country, to the world, to the Commonwealth!” One state figure described her as “one of the threads that binds UK together”. A BBC reporter aptly summed public emotions as the Queens’s remains moved from Balmoral to Edinburg: “… a final display of devotion to the Queen”. Strolling in the Green Park was themed gratitude: “… the slow quiet walk through the park, the mood sombre and thankful”. Laying flowers, queuing on the street for a glimpse of King Charles III or Queen’s cortege emanated from the urge to “do something or go somewhere as a way of paying their respects”. Across the globe, people share “wonderful memories of a wonderful lady” and “… thank the Queen for her wonderful service”. My mother, belonging to the pre-independence generation, simply refers to her as "our original Queen". The do not knows should read for a glimpse of the complex colonial history that continuously shapes our present to avoid replication colonial patterns.

Dignifying the Dead

Queen Elizabeth II, a model of style and fashion decency, sitting posture and social interaction is also exemplifying socio-cultural decorum in death. She authored her funeral arrangement. The small cortege has impressed my in-law, compared with the large ones she often witnesses in Ghana.

“Sometimes, history unfolds quietly”, was how a reporter conceptualized the quiet weepy “river of people” from Balmoral through Aberdeen to Edinburg through to Buckingham Palace to Westminster.  Similar respectful silence greeted the pronouncement of the death of one Royal Majesty and the installation of another Royal Majesty in Welsh and Belfast. To the effective communicator, the respectful hallmarks the public’s genuine honour for the Queen. 

Funerals have become a major source of noise pollution and violent invasion of privacy in Ghana. Music blares from dawn to dust for burial and continues the following day, noise and revelry detracting heavily from solemn occasions. Valuable lessons of sombreness from the royal funeral.

The Queen understood and knew how to change with turbulent times. Her astuteness endowed her with grit and objectivity in duty. I join millions in paying respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a dynamic leader of the times.

Rectifying Menstrual Poverty: Educational Approach

 

As laudable as is the idea of setting a day aside annually to raise awareness of pertinent issues across communities, it dampens the heart that attention wanes after the day and everybody goes back to routine. New issues that crop up to complicate existing ones might not get the necessary attention until the year rounds up again. That is the sure path to regression. Maintaining the conversation on pertinent issues might expedite sustainable progress. It has rightly been stressed that menstruation poverty requires constant national dialogue. In the June 13, 2022 edition of the Daily Graphic, one Rebecca Kwei urged Ghanaians to maintain the conversation on menstruation.

In her September 23 article, Miss Ajoa Yeboah-Afari reiterated the call for continuous engagement on the topic in her Thoughts of a Native Daughter column in The Mirror. The writers approach the topic of menstruation poverty from different angles but converge on the theme of dropping import taxes on sanitary napkins to enhance affordability for all girls. They also advocate free distribution of period products to reduce girls’ school absenteeism.

Being a body function rooted in utmost female intimacy, the slightest concession on menstruation implies a violent disruption of privacy. Even in a girls’ dormitory, dressing under watchful eyes of other girls raised the self-consciousness of a girl in her cycle. Every girl knows her cycle, so quantity of pads sent to school matched the length of a term. However, the biological make-up could go whacky at will and create shortage for a girl. Even on those rare occasions, asking (a) closest friend(s) for supplementary pad was done unobtrusively. In retrospect, those were privileged situations in the 80s.

Soiling self remains a most embarrassing situation for a girl, even to traumatic dimensions. Therefore, the discussion on menstrual hygiene/health should be wrapped in a cloud of utmost sensitivity and respect, not be warped by mercenary motives. Help should neither be intrusive nor patronizing but rather epitomize affirmation of female dignity. Conversely, Girls need courage to own their menstruation to avert various forms of female degradation.

There have been several calls to government to reduce various taxes on imported sanitary materials to create equity in accessibility. Others advocate free distribution of pads. Some advocates will like a review of VAT on locally manufactured pads. Magnanimous points but some have potential to deepen the disturbing dependency psyche which remains the root of national retrogression.

Therefore, the conversation must also be driven by current, raving economic reality. Considering the high birth rate, high female numbers and the early commencing of menarche, sanitary material demand will maintain a constant rising curve. In such critical times of escalating national debt and inflation, is it realistic to feed a dependency culture around menstruation and hope for sustainability?

The role of Parents

Parental responsibility in handling menstruation poverty must never be glossed in targeted period conversations. Any agency involved in the advocacy must consistently prompt parents about their primary role in providing for their dependent daughters. The fact that their neglect has potential to hurl girls into the arms of unscrupulous males, with potential consequences of unwanted pregnancy and premature birth, which deepens family poverty ought to interest neglectful parents. The reasoning that it is less costly to provide menstruation materials for their girl children than have a whole human addition to the family should also never be spared such parents. Responsible childbirth should be harped.

NGOs and other menstrual hygiene advocacy groups could rope in the Social Welfare for collaboration to heighten parental education that providing menstrual material is part of the latter’s maintenance responsibility. Minors should be able to report parents who renege on that responsibility to the Social Welfare. There ought to be some gentle penalization, such as counselling or a fine to the tune one sanitary pack, for delinquent parents who compromise their daughters’ dignity. A sense of accountability also constitutes effective solution.

Ownership through education

The best support for girls is the one that helps them to take ownership of their menstruation, not one which emphasizes their poverty status. Weaning girls from the dependency mentality is also a crucial part of the solution. An NGO in Uganda helps girls to make reusable sanitary napkins. How about targeting that through Creative Arts and Social Skills subjects at the basic and secondary levels respectively in Ghana? Production materials could be explored through inter-disciplinary collaboration.

Exploring the current practical-based curriculum concept to teach lifelong skills in designing and producing sanitary napkins locally, by girls, would constitute the most sustainable form of empowerment. Such a move is arguably pragmatic: Government might be compelled by a struggling economy to uphold existing taxes on menstruation materials or put a cap on the period of tax freeze. Corporate bodies will always be motivated by profit, not by girl needs. If a cross-section of the neediest can be helped to self-produce sanitary napkins, it would not only dignify them but also set some of them on a possible career path. A do-it-yourself approach is a much viable option for exploration.

Finally, a Niche!

 

Finally, former President Mahama has found a common niche with President Akuffo-Addo, the IMF! However, Mr. Mahama considers Vice President (VP) Bawumia and Finance Minister (FM) Ofori-Atta failures, hence, unqualified for IMF negotiations (Graphic online, Jul - 02 – 2022). Mr. Mahama’s contempt is misplaced; credit precedes criticism.

The VP who has introduced digitization to Ghana, appreciably formalizing the economy, bringing much needed convenience and expedited services to Ghanaians, is not a failure. Similarly, the FM who has handled finance for six years, widening access to secondary education, who paid public service workers for the nine months they did not work during COVID-19 lockdown, fed numerous low-income earners, increasing public service wages alongside, cannot be a failure. He cautioned the TUC in early 2022 that the state could ill-afford the wage increase demand, since 60 % of the national funds go into salaries.

The duo that ingeniously rolled out the Nation Builders’ Corps concept, engaging a backlog of unemployed graduates, cannot be failures. The concept pushed into various sectors, a cross-section of graduates who could not be employed by the Mahama Administration, due to IMF employment freeze, because they received allowances, not salaries. The engaged experienced financial relief, received technological training and industrial experience.

Digitization has propelled a strong programme in Information Communication Technology for learners, especially girl education. Additionally, the VP has initiated a sophisticated entrepreneurship laboratory for (youth) skill acquisition, alongside short- and long-term skill development programme for various trades. Utilizing national funds for currency in human resource development is not a failure. Indeed, fiscal issues could have even been better handled, shortcomings contributing to current economic crisis, but that is a painful dent, not failure.

Mr. Mahama has more in common with President Akuffo-Addo than the former apparently realizes. When Mr. Mahama converted six polytechnics to technical universities (TUs) in 2016, he stressed the urgent need for competency-based training. Logically, his administration supplied industrial equipment and machinery for practical instruction.

However, his grave error remains neglecting to engage grassroot polytechnic stakeholders to ascertain impediments to hands-on training. Else, he would have realized the endangered status of hands-on training due to systemic marginalization of technicians. The polytechnic system had failed to develop a career path for technicians. Consequently, they divert for progression. Though TUs received machinery and equipment, persistent scarcity in technicians obstructs the nurturing of competent graduates for industry.

If the TUs had fulfilled the mandate for competency-based training, President Akuffo-Addo’s policy of One-District: One Factory could have been smoothly rolled out, strengthening national manufacturing base. A competitive manufacturing sector could have strengthened the Cedi, improved sustainable employment, opened avenues for new joblines and commodity export, which might have improved the nation’s GDP and effectively hold the IMF at bay.

To wit, policies initiated by the Executive must be rolled out by stakeholders – public, private and consumers. Stakeholder profligacy implies that excellent policies, birthed by huge investments, remain dormant, and funds cannot be recouped. Sinking national coffers roll to the IMF. Which stakeholders are breathing fire on the Vice President and Finance Minister, which torch is being branded by Mr. Mahama? Ironically, the IMF believes in the country’s leadership (Daily Graphic Jul.7, p.22).

Common Fault

One major governance drawback of both Mr. Mahama and President Akuffo-Addo has been their failure to operate meritocracy. Consequently, sycophancy has smeared both regimes, yielding, in Senyo Hosi’s candid summary, “PR stunts filled with untruths, financial malpractices and sub-optimal governance just to sustain personal interests and footsoldier fleeces.”  (Jul - 06 – 2022, graphic online).

Excellent pragmatic policies have been initiated in the past six years, but a saturated environment of nepotism, indolence, opportunism and wastefulness, rapidly erodes the impact. The human capital needed to bolster the economy for innovation, mostly, believe they are entitled to wealth and privilege, alarmingly missing the willpower that propels societal progress. Such sing, pray and boast whilst Ghana regresses.

Synergy
Synergy might salvage not only the economy but Ghanaian dignity. The constant dancing with IMF implies – in the Akan language – akͻhwisεm (national) wastefulness, an abhorring reputation, as Miss Elizabeth Ohene has so succinctly captured it (Jul 6, 2022 Daily Graphic).

Shirking repulsive materialism, regressive debates, fanatism for diligence is required. Halting the commercializing of education for human capital is necessary. Pursuing quality education to impact the intellect for astuteness would refine. Human capital with emotional intelligence, a high sense of moderation and duty, plus community sense, could halt the wasteful attitude.

The nation has enough for everybody’s needs but not enough for the majority greed. Choices and consequences! Assertiveness spirit, commitment, perseverance, good humour, diligence might make us commit to humans, not vain wealth. Discipline, fenced by moderation and conscientiousness, might aid us to bid eternal farewell to the IMF at no. 18.

 

Joseph Mgimba: Inspiration for the Industrious

 

Heard of Mgimba? He is the Ugandan man who has made a fortune selling cockroaches to China. He discovered this peculiar culinary habit of the Chinese – fried cockroach stew – and started growing cockroaches. Neighbours who observed him harvesting thousands of cockroaches poured scorn on his endeavour. Now a millionaire, Mgimba was interviewed on BBC recently. A word to Ken Ofori-Atta and the boss of the Ghana Export Promotion Centre is enough.

That was a PS to the columnist Enimil Ashon’s article in the June 24^th, 2022 edition of the Daily Graphic. Researching Joseph Mgimba yielded a short article affirming that “he trains and sells cockroaches for a living”. I perceive three significant implications in Mgimba’s story:

 

Acumen at Work

That some unprogressive Chinese have descended on Africa like hungry scavengers is evident from their participation in illegal mining, culminating in the destruction of potable water and affable lands – Ghana. In some African countries, unscrupulous Chinese are spearheading donkey poaching, having desecrated the elephant species for ivory. Thanks to conniving, unethical indigenous businesses, Chinese junk goods have flooded the Ghanaian market, with deplorable implications.

Amidst skewed business relationships, Joseph Mgimba symbolizes a hand of industrial competition. For a change, Chinese money is coming to Africa, not as a soft loan but as revenue earned through African ingenuity. An indigene, evidently astute, has successfully studied the Chinese eating habit to set up a thriving culinary business with that community, thus, making complete nonsense of that individual Chinese bigot’s ignorant claim in Malawi that Africans have low IQ. On the contrary, Africans can be just as industrious as the Chinese, but we are respectful.

Lessons from Mgimba

Joseph Mgimba’s novelty must not remain an isolated case. Africans have been streaming to China for higher studies in recent times, most returning with terminal degrees. If they exercised Mgimba’s kind of astuteness, a cross-section of African industry would be servicing Chinese needs. Then, we could gradually balance the investment scales through acquired knowledge and skill application.  It is never too late though.

Enimil Ashon threw Mgimba’s novelty at the court of the Finance Minister and Director of Ghana Export Promotion Centre, but he should have cast the net farther. In fact, he should have forcefully hurled the inspiring story and implications at the teeming unemployed. This diligent, shrewd Malawian is cashing in on a needy situation, a business gap, ready to get his hands dirty, as opposed to many unemployed Ghanaians, especially, the youth, forever waiting for government to employ them, so that they can get all dressed up and go sit in an office.

Look, the Industrious Mgimba                                                                                          
Consider Mgimba’s courage in convincing himself to commence his unusual business. Imagine the effort it must have cost him to go on tedious rounds, first acquainting Malawian neighbours, friends and families, even strangers, of his weird concept, probably informing them of his plan to collect cockroaches from their not so clean spaces. Imagine the thousands of hours he must have spent on his rounds, detecting and strategizing to catch the slippery insects alive. Consider the creativity it must require to breed/train cockroaches, feed them and ensure their safety in enclosed spaces, considering that they are free rangers.

Imagine Mgimba’s tenacity in defying neighbours' scorn in relentless pursuit of his business target. Imagine the resilience he mustered to convince himself of his sanity and business potential, and one would sadly realize that those are the very qualities lacking in many unemployed Ghanaians, especially the youth, who glorify riches but abhor diligence. One sad consequence of the current propensity of many contemporary Ghanaian to get rich quick is that they would never experience Mgimba’s sense of achievement, which endows an individual with the most glorious and dignifying feeling, emanating from accomplishing an arduous task.

Conceiving an idea and strategizing to turn dream into reality remains a human triumph. Out of such daring dreamers come innovation and adaptability. Such ones have a keen sense of observation which drives them to smell opportunity from afar and muster courage to grab opportunity. Such do not wait for government or connections to offer them unmerited jobs. Rather, they study for adaptable skills and explore opportunities. Joseph Mgimba is worthy of emulation, because he epitomizes determination.

The good news is that the knowledge and entrepreneurial skills Mgimba needed to propel him to his current position are within reach of young and old. Through the Skills Development programme run by vocational centres, technical institutes, NVTI and technical universities in Ghana, literates as well as illiterates can access flexible 21st Century vocational training for sustainable, innovative and adaptable job creation competence. For the truly determined, the target is the globe, not China, but the price is hard work

Leadership in Ghana: A Concept in Crisis

 

During one community elections, three young adults visited me; we had the exchange below:

Would-be-contestant: I want to contest the … position; what advice do you have for me?

Me: You should have told me that you have identified this or these challenges, which you plan to help your community with, so what is your plan?

All three people: No one spoke; they just stared at me. (I realized that they had no plan and were clueless about leadership.)

Me: You go, look around and identify one or two major challenges. Brainstorm ideas and come back and share with me. I will advise as necessary. (They never came back, so I thought they had given up.)

I was away on the day of election but returned to meet the celebration. I almost swooned when I saw the community leader elected – the non-starter who had sought my advice. I had not realized that the position in question was the topmost one.

My enquiries revealed that the election had been purely territorial, not about qualities or vision. Voters were just happy to vote for someone from their side of community. Logically, the community lost in so many ways under that visionless leadership. Upon serious reflection, it hit me that many Ghanaians leaders are clueless about leadership.

One course I thoroughly and absolutely enjoyed teaching was Executive Communication, part of a professional programme at NIIT. I loved the course for its rich content and broad treatment of the concept of leadership. Learners were helped to understand that leadership is not about a person but about qualities such as loyalty, courage, commitment, determination, integrity, enthusiasm, empathy, vision, collaboration, humility and initiative, to name these. Leadership is about protecting and preserving national legacies and natural resources for all generations.

Leadership is about possessing a vision which others might not even begin to contemplate and having the knowledge and willpower to translate the vision into achievable goals that ordinary citizens can pursue for progress, obstacles notwithstanding. Leadership is the ability to mobilize human resources and motivate them to utilize natural and other resources effectively for sustainable benefits. Leadership is harnessing available human energies to maximize community efforts and productivity. A leader who can do that must be an empathetic listener, read vigorously and analytically, critically observe others and collaborate respectfully, speak to create harmony in order to persuade others to act. A true leader strives for excellence, so leadership is service.

Indeed, leadership is hard work, which begins after the contest is won. Again, upon reflection, I realized that it is the opposite in Ghana. Here, one works hard during election campaign to mobilize supporters who can convince people to vote for a contestant, because s/he might be rhetorical or good looking or belong to a geographical area or possesses wealth. Once a contestant jumps the election hurdle successfully, s/he can relax, enjoy hefty service conditions, feed close associates and let the system run itself down. Merely being elected earns one a title of good deed, whereas in other communities, a leaders must excel to earn a title. Since election success is a reward in Ghana, what else is left to motivate a leader to work hard.

Leadership is not just about the leader but also about the people being led. Leaders can afford complacency when followers are satisfied with crumbs. The latter swallow lofty promises only to be shunned after elections. Often, the electorate complains of politicians who change their phone numbers after they have won an election. Instead of going to the people to mobilize them for fruitful works, the elected shun the electorate. Many a Ghanaian leader leaves fully air-conditioned official house for the official air-conditioned vehicle – leaves the air-condition on when they have to consult or shop enroute – works from air-conditioned office and back to the house, leadership in luxury. The beneficiary followers neither see nor hear nor speak evil.

Because many Ghanaians know and accept this warped sense of leadership, a true, innovative, determined, and assertive leader who collaborates, serves by putting community first and utilize resources effectively to pre-empt waste, becomes an adversary. That leader is derided rather than commended for loyalty and commitment. The constant reward for such committed leaders is painful isolation. Yet, such possess grit and maintain their focus on humanity. Though exhausted, they trudge on to protect citizens and national legacies, the combined strength of the committed few balancing the outrageous strength of the delinquents to keep nation going, setting precedent, and giving hope to the dedicated few.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organic Concept in Agriculture: Broadening Perspectives

 

On Wednesday, May 25, 2022, the Agriculture Minister spoke about the high cost of inorganic fertilizers vis-a-vis Government’s constrained purse. He shared that the Ministry is considering organic compost as alternate, stressing financial potential: Organic products have significant market advantage over inorganic ones and enjoy better patronage in Europe. Organic composting is a welcoming idea since a lot of food exported from Ghana fail to meet safety standards of Europe due to overly concentration of chemicals.

In rolling out such ideas, governments usually rely on research institutions and industry. Logically, the Minister mentioned Zoomlion, which is running a compost Plant in the Greater-Accra Region. Other regions have also initiated the concept, so it is appropriate that the Ministry would adapt current practices to solve emerging problems. A media person sought the reaction of a compost expert from Zoomlion.

In a typical Ghanaian fashion, the expert readily enumerated the challenging factors of the plan. He mentioned that composting is capital intensive, and it is not feasible to get the amount of biodegradable waste required for such high amounts of compost. He concluded that the Government must find means to keep importing inorganic fertilizer. Indeed, the Minister had only implied a reduction in patronage.

The Bigger Picture

A more enthusiastic expert would have perceived immediately the numerous benefits that his company stands to gain from the idea, the basic being increased production, which would entrench his own employment and position. Zoomlion would engage more hands to staff the regional branches that would necessarily emerge to feed the grassroots, thus, reduce unemployment. Demand for compost would rise, and higher sales might translate into better remuneration.

Additionally, a national organic compost programme would promote safe and effective waste management. Research has revealed that 60-65 % of waste generated in Ghana is biodegradable, some placing it at 70 %. To wit, with innovative and effective mobilization skills, Zoomlion could ensure a sustainable, frugal supply of waste materials throughout the year. Best of all, such a plan would reduce by the same amount the mountains of waste besieging our communities.  

The primary step in plan implementation would be a national orientation in layered waste segregation to aid systematic composting. Inevitably, knowledge in composting would spill over to vermicomposting, sensitizing children and youth to different faces of agriculture. Organic composting would promote best gardening practices, nurture topsoil to yield healthy food products for gardeners, possibly increasing knowledge and interest in agriculture.

If the Government initiated the plan and Zoomlion became a leading stakeholder, the company would stand a great opportunity in securing international collaboration. South Africa, Australia, UK, Europe and the US have developed excelling organic waste management industries which yield tons of topnotch compost for domestic and export purposes. Established entities might collaborate with Zoomlion and other local companies to transform the agricultural and biodegradable waste sectors into sustainable manufacturing and income sources while enhancing food safety. Government could also invite such entities to establish in Ghana to boost local efforts.

Environmental Benefits  

The landfills across the country do not constitute just an eyesore but also degrade the environment. US Environmental Protection Agency affirmed in 2021 that landfills and other sources emit methane, a greenhouse gas which accounts for about 20 % of global emissions, trailing carbon dioxide. Complacent Ghanaians claim that waste generation in the country is not significant enough to contribute to global warming. Yet, China and Nigeria are among the eight countries responsible for all anthropogenic methane emission. Considering the flooding of Chinese manufacturing, operations of Nigerian entrepreneurs, and proliferating landfills in Ghana, methane recovery is a necessity.

A collaboration with foreign organic waste entities would likely include technologies for methane recovery for profitable energy utility. Again, such a move would imply creation of new job lines to reduce unemployment. Ironically, there is existing skill for methane recovery and utilization, but neither research institutions nor industry is harnessing such skills, wasting potential human resources. A compost programme could reverse the unacceptable situation.

A laudable idea, already yielding multiple benefits in other communities, has been conceived by the Ministry. Collaboration from research institutions and industry would, not only bloom the idea but also broaden the bases enough for grassroot participation. It is time experts applied acquired knowledge to solve community, national and global problems. Could they fulfil expectations?

E-Levy: Another Victim of Ghanaian Alliterate Culture

 

On Thursday, May 5, 2022, whilst topping my mobile wallet –not e-levied – a conversation ensued between the vendor and another client:

Client:(Sternly) I am withdrawing money from my account; don’t you dare tax me even one Cedi!
Vendor: Withdrawal from your account does not attract e-Levy.
Client: (Smiling) Really, no e-Levy?
Vendor: No. Transferring money to another person’s wallet attracts e-Levy, not your own withdrawal. (Vendor and I chorused): You are fighting what you do not even understand.

The exchange reminded me of two national policies that suffered ignorant antipathy: At the maiden plenary session of the 2007 Educational Review, the Director of Curriculum Review and Development Design, now NaCCA, lamented that the Religious and Moral Education subject was not impacting moral values of pupils, focus on religious issues notwithstanding. A lengthy debate in the succeeding sessions culminated in the consensus that rather than teach/learn values in isolation under one subject, moral values should be worked into all the subjects. Social Studies would tackle religious issues.

The Director’s logic still resonates with me: Market women knock inwards the bottom of measuring tins for grains, short-changing customers. Scales are also adjusted to cheat customers. In a pragmatic discussion of addition or percentages, teachers could explain that a tampered tin or adjusted scales do not give expected value for money – Dishonest. All subject areas, including English Language, worked assiduously to incorporate moral and cultural values into lessons, also managing social-emotional learning. It was a strenuous effort to render education practical.

The Reviewers never expected the hue and cry that greeted the first draft syllabus over the removal of Religious and Moral Education. The most vociferous protest came from the Churches. Apparently, the Review Committee and the sitting Government were antichrist to dare remove such a subject. Through all the pontification, however, I gleaned that they had not read the syllabi. The superficially about subject removal, disregarding rationale and replacement effort, was numbing.

The subjected was reinstated; paradoxically, pupil morality has continued to dip to the lowest ebb. Eighteen years later, we are harvesting increasing basic school alcohol/drug addiction, materialism, immorality culminating in teenage pregnancies, unplanned births, unnecessary curtailment of girl/child education, and a perpetuation of female dependency and poverty statuses. Could we, possibly, have done better with the original 2007 curriculum draft?

The Comprehensive Sex Education concept yielded another national hollow ruckus from the uniformed. One Monday, I was meeting four professional groups, so I sought learner perspective. Their only apprehension was the open discussion of sex, arguing it would arouse children’s curiosity. I explained it was purported to open discussion on sex, sensitize children, among others, about being touched wrongly, even by parents, potentially raise assertive children to resist/reduce child molestation, promote responsible attitude towards sex. I asked who had read the document. No one in four tertiary professional groups had read the document, yet they were condemning it.

The dialogue above starkly reminded me that we are treading the same alliterate route with E-Levy, so I ask ALL adversaries: Have you read the document? If any antagonist, like the client above, has not read and understood taxed items, exemptions, what is the moral grounds for heightened antagonism? Sheer antipathy to taxation – civic responsibility?

Residents who have embraced superficiality are not interested in adjustments for genuine human resource development and empowerment. If we treaded a literate course, all radio and TV stations would devote an hour each day to explain the E-Levy through knowledgeable tax personnel throughout 2022. Pressure groups and Ghanaian think tanks would collaborate with the NCCE and Ghana Revenue Authority/Ministry of Education/Adult Education/the Media to simultaneously design grassroots education and critique the process to straighten Government.

A literate Ghana would be critically poring over the tax details for responsibilities, exemptions, potential for national economic sustenance. An analytical Ghana would be scrutinizing the digitization process GRA is utilizing for fair taxation, the savvy of ICT personnel involved, the competence and integrity of communication service providers/Momo operators, the technological knowledge/infrastructure they have for competent services. We have responsibilities! My question to each stakeholder: Have you read the E-Levy document?

The Mirror

 

If Charles Dickens were here and he considered a world ravaged by a pandemic, a compounded global aggravation due to a war launched by a narcissistic personality determined to prove his superiority complex, regardless of who gets hurt, thereby, raising the avalanche of humanitarian crises amidst global warming, migration, increasing poverty and hunger, he would definitely label our days hard times. However, if he aptly summed the mentality of many Ghanaians determined to reap where they had not sown, always expecting freebies from government, upholding a chronic stance of dependency, he would brand our days embarrassing times.

The Executives and Finance Minister ought to pat themselves on the shoulder for compelling Ghanaians to confront our inner selves. The E-Levy concept has become a mirror which has forcefully thrown back at Ghanaians their true substance. It has been insightful, sometimes sadly humorous, observing the reactions of politicians, academicians, advocacy groups and ordinary Ghanaians through the tax debate. The psyche emerged cherishes dependency and floors dignity.

My mathematics has never been strong, but I could hold my own in logic and general knowledge whilst in school. Therefore, I know that governments maximize taxes from endeavours highly patronized by the populace. Even the argument of the proposed rate being on the higher side was frail because taxation is not arbitrary. Earnings and expenditure –financial obligations – determine payment and/or benefits of exemption. Taxing per earnings cushions citizens in low-income brackets.

Of course, a National Identification system would enable the National Revenue Agency (GRA) to track residents’ financial standing, but the National Identification Authority (NIA) totters, digitization notwithstanding. Consequently, the GRA cannot faithfully widen the tax bracket for fair assessment and taxation. If government had cracked the whip and made the NIA worked assiduously to complete the identification process before the bill was introduced, it might have yielded a desirable transparency, smoothening the process. The image that emerges in the mirror does not flatter the Executive.

Parliament, especially, the opposition had a legitimate duty to debate the bill for equity and fairness. The strange aspect was the opposition’s rejection of an inevitable tax bill. If the current government had not introduced the bill, a future government would have due to the increasing patronage of electronic transactions, potentially reducing banks’ businesses. If government does not tax that line of service, how would it recover slipping revenue? If I fathomed that, then the opposition definitely was savvy, so the rejection threw me. Even so, it was hugely interesting to watch the shifting positions of rejection, stakeholder engagement, rate reduction.

The opposition’s argument of protecting the masses was the most controversial, if not downright cynical. The most effective way to defend the masses would have been to plug the corporate exploitative holes to give ordinary Ghanaians value for money. Communication Service Providers might easily top the list of corporate exploitation in the country. However, the extent of exploitation is a conversation for another day. Sadly, Parliament squandered a huge opportunity in tightening regulations to ensure quality communications service to citizens. Consequently, the image of the opposition law makers in the mirror is equally unflattering.

Ghanaian academicians can prove a hindrance to progress when giving recommendations to government. With tongue in check, one academician implored Ghanaian to accept the bill in order to save the economy. He also advocated a check and balance: A commission which would oversee the total revenue per a tax season and pragmatic utilization of the funds. That recommendation really flipped me upside down! Knowing the stupendous amounts that constitutes allowances for commissions and national committees in Ghana, if government accepted that recommendation, the commission’s allowances would suck whatever revenue would emanate from the levy, negating the initiative. That was the most unflattering image in the mirror, the academician.

The cacophony of massed voices yielded a horrifying hydra-headed image of dependency mentality, overshadowing a glowing image of diligent ones who put nation first, protect resources and pay tax to support the economy. Ironically, that marginal group keeps the national boat afloat. Each one of us must conscientiously search the soul to align self with the appropriate image for refinement.

Yet Another Season of Strikes

 

Advocates of the lame defence that the only language governments of Ghana understand is strike miss the reality that a strike could also represent workers’ simplistic way of securing a financial objective. There is some validity in the argument that Ghanaian politicians receive extremely high salaries, whilst the ordinary worker shouldering the economy is tossed a meagre salary, hence, what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Indeed, one cannot defend the reality that an economy that struggles constantly also supports some exorbitant wages. Non-politicians also enjoy mind-blowing salaries. Sadly, some public organizations, struggling to fulfil their core mandate, would defend high salaries, even fulfil extravagant service conditions, diverting limited funds from where it belongs, then compromise and/or neglect primary service.

Paying taxes is a civic responsibility, but since we are in the strike season, perhaps those of us in the small bracket of the country’s taxpayers should also embark on a strike to protest the unfairness of shouldering more than our fair share of Ghana’s financial burden for many a cheat who earn and pocket entire income for extravagance. Ironically, the penultimate group understands that governance is hinged on taxation. Without ordinary people’s taxes, governments will not be able to provide services, so we earn and pay our taxes – low or high.  

I have scanty knowledge about determining wages and salaries, but my gumption tells me that certain perilous jobs attract higher remuneration – not that any amount can compensate loss of life. Some services are lifesaving so performers must be motivated to prioritize public life, not short-change society. Organizations consider current living conditions and remunerate commensurately. Some jobs come with multifarious roles, so duties and associated stress guide remuneration. The fact remains that every line of service contributes to the overall development of a nation. To wit, determining wages/salaries is a painful, complex antagonistic task; little wonder that there is constant dissent. It is humanly impossible to satisfy all employees at all times, strength of economy notwithstanding.

Workers’ strike has become a channel, sometimes, utilized by Unions in Ghana to circumvent constructive dialogue and realistic negotiations, effectively clouding current reality. It is increasingly a weapon for legitimizing the appalling spirit of entitlement rising among contemporary Ghanaians. The spate of strikes is alarming because service provision does not improve with wage/salary augmentation. Service continues to slip. All sectors are lamenting the high cost of living and increased taxes, but equal attention is not given to low productivity.

That strikes/protests have become an escape route for some rhetoricians might be deduced from some protests staged to counter initiatives with potential for strengthening the autonomy. Sometimes, the counter advocacy makes one shudder for the future leadership such represents. Subjectivity effectively stamps out the environment for critical analysis of wage/salary negotiations, the most frightening being the silence on long-term implications.

The entire world is besieged by overwhelming challenges, some camouflaging cataclysmic shrouds: Climate Change threatens existence, COVID-19 pandemic keeps nations on tenterhooks, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine has deepened global troubled waters. Such occur amidst rising unemployment, porous skills of graduates, deepening poverty, food security threats and alarming crime rate in Ghana, to mention these.

Yet, one hears about increase in wages/salaries only, in a country which paid public sector workers full salary during COVID-19 lockdown. The stock-cushion for increment without the commensurate productivity is rapidly eroding due to exponential population growth, rising illiteracy rate, porous skills which culminate in low, and/or cheap productivity, which thus compromise industry’s global competitiveness. For how long can a frail economy support such liabilities? But many Ghanaians will sing, pray, play the blame game and go on strike, rather than critically analyse actions and consequences.

It is time Unions targeted high productivity for fair, sustainable wage/salary increases. Demand technological hands-on training to strengthen industry. Compel systems to utilize digitization to sprint education and industry to 21^st Century production capacity. Urge workers to utilize resources effectively. Condemn Ghanaian dependency mentality. Implore workers to embrace genuine knowledge and skill acquisition, diligence, and professionalism for dignity. Prompt workers to eschew mediocrity, strive for excellence. In short, Unions must negotiate holistically!

Ghana Beyond Aid: A Concept for the Astute

 

When President Akuffo-Addo first pronounced his vision of Ghana beyond Aid before an international gathering, my immediate reaction was you must first rid Ghanaians of the dependency mentality. I should have twittered him that line. The vision can be likened to an academic paper. A coherent one has a controlling idea summarized in a mature thesis statement, which is broadened through major themes/ideas stated through topic sentences. The themes/ideas are logically developed, strategically supported through cohesive, related sentences. A paper that follows those rules achieves unity of thought.

Ghana beyond aid is this Leadership’s controlling idea, the rationale being eventual assertive people whose intelligence and acquired knowledge empower them to decide what they want/need and pursue such through responsible, effective and sustainable use of resources. The ultimate outcome of an autonomous, Ghanaian society is possible only though ingenious human capital. Sadly, many Ghanaians – politicians, intellectuals, lay, clergy, youth, old – wittingly or unwittingly have failed to grasp the concept.

Major policies expected to propel Ghana towards that vision include gender-equity education, digitization, industrialization, environmentally friendly measures, and technology that strategically supports teaching/learning and lends currency to industrial operations, to mention these. Utilizing tax to fund basic and secondary education would help Ghana to raise quality human capital. Information Communication Technology continues to impact education and channel global development, so the policy of digitization is expected to bring currency to education and reforms to fuel quality learning/training as well as diversely sanitize operations across all sectors, bring quality service and convenience to Ghanaians. Global warming is endangering humanity, so environmental issues constitute a key policy, one major element of which is fighting illegal mining to protect natural resources. It requires a holistic perception to appreciate the high level of governance rolled out in the last five years, amidst severest of constrains. Indeed, governance is a negotiation between government and the governed.

Policies initiated by the Executive are implemented by public and civil services and the private sectors; such roll out policies through strategic analysis, planning and localization of initiated policies. Digitization is already yielding dividends; interoperability has transformed business transactions and brought desired convenience to the Ghanaian consumer. If all the sectors zealously tapped the policy, the benefits would be even greater. One hopes for expedited action to compel all sectors to align public services to the policy to reduce exploitation and tax evasion.

However, development does not occur without cost to citizens. Across the world, quality services are offered to citizens at a huge price: Taxation. Pragmatic Ghanaians know that governance is hinged on taxation, and those who earn higher income pay higher taxes. To wit, improved services attract higher taxation, which rate is determined by the existing level of productivity. Low productivity and a small tax bracket equate high taxation – Ghana’s reality. The citizens who have enjoyed free services in the past five years are raising a hue and cry over new and increased taxes with the lame excuse that they did not ask for such services, they are poor. Well, government needs taxes to provide environment that reduces poverty.

Many citizens wilfully, unremorsefully commit atrocities against the environment, which poor actions spiral off human suffering and environmental degradation, culminating in increased state expenditure and high cost of living that deepen residents’ poverty. Gullibility renders many residents susceptible to exploitation. Ghanaians’ debilitating mindset that they are entitled to reward without work continues to drain national coffers, replenished through high taxation. Instead of throwing punches, this hung parliament should conscientiously negotiate for the most effective implementation of the E-Levy. NCCE should quadruple national sensitization efforts in civic responsibilities.

When government expenditure keeps skyrocketing and productivity remains low, higher taxation results. The extensive aid that supports Ghana results from high taxation of people elsewhere. So why should we not raise taxes to propel our development? Paying tax towards self-sustenance is dignifying; effective utilization of taxation is the only realistic channel towards sustainable development. Yet, many Ghanaians fail to accept that. The agitators are not fighting for E-Levy tax withdrawal; they are viciously gripping the entrenched dependency mentality – expecting but not prepared to work/pay for services/development.

UTAG’s Strike: Some Upshoots

 

UTAG’s indefinite strike, which commenced on January 10, 2022, has hit many a pragmatic Ghanaian with a high degree of sadness laced with an equally higher degree of cynicism, not only for the timing but also due to UTAG’s apparent disconnect with the times. It is extremely worrying that the trump card in Teachers’ salary negotiation is constantly withholding the precious activity of knowledge creation and sharing. It works because no stakeholder wants to derail the academic calendar: Learners desire to either advance or complete programmes. Parents/Guardians do not relish any lingering time for paying tuition. The employer does not want to be unpopular. Basically, that trump card secures government’s acquiescence.

The paradox of that trump card is that teachers who ought to nurture students’ appreciation for critical learning rather model materialism, thus, trample the fundamental classroom rationale of prioritizing knowledge. Learners pick the materialistic mindset, which explains the disturbing trend of many growing Ghanaians simply wanting to take. That spirit of being entitled to, currently dominant among a bigger cross-section of Ghanaians, has emanated from the culture of always taking from government, even though government possesses nothing, but the resources taxed from the people whose intelligence and diligence are nurtured to explore and live by the natural endowments of the nation.

It is true that Unions must negotiate working conditions that align with current realities, even as the employer also strategizes to save revenue. There is also no gainsaying that every employee can do with a little bit of extra money, but all ought to occur within certain ethical lines and the realities of the times, otherwise the business of salary negotiation becomes mercenary. It is incumbent upon the government to ensure that the growing generations receive adequate training for future responsibilities.

Silent Indicators

In the January 9th online edition of the Daily Graphic, UTAG claims “non-determination of Market Premium (MP), an interim payment measure frozen in 2013 for a market survey to determine deserving beneficiaries. Its bone of contention is that the survey failed to resolve the issue. However, the Association also appears to be circumventing. What precipitated the freezing? Good communicators do not simply rely on information given; they also consider the implications of what is not shared.

Is the non-determination an omission or a hint that universities are short-changing the employer and job market? The worsening unemployment situation over the period due to graduates seeking jobs instead of creating jobs, compulsory entrepreneurship training notwithstanding, is not exactly an argument for teachers’ unique market relevance. Industry disparages graduates’ skills. The previous government may have suspended the MP, but the current government has had to initiate the National Builders Corps to enhance graduates’ skill in technology whilst temporarily engaging them across sectors. Additionally, it has had to establish an entrepreneurship programme for graduates and other youth, alongside skill development programmes, also accompanied by a solid ICT initiative for learners, all from the same national revenue, about 60 % of which goes to pay salary, teachers’ taking an appreciable chunk. Does UTAG – and other Teacher Unions – consider the adverse implications of those interventions when government takes over the training functions of learning institutions?

Elsewhere, universities invest heavily in Information Communication Technology to render teaching/training current to address employment mismatch. Contrarily in Ghana, government must enhance technological skills of graduates. In other communities, even traditional universities consider industrial retraining of graduates upon employment as an indictment and are strenuously exploring internships to make their graduates marketable. Ghanaian universities “churn out” graduates who are retrained en mass by the government. How is that a prime for a market premium. Is government’s persistent bowing to Teacher Unions’ demands fair to the taxpayer, a cross-section of whom are parents who pay for learners’ education, which renders them susceptible to underutilization, unemployment?

Government recommends that UTAG liaises with the Public Services Commission to train human resources for higher positions. The Association’s response is numbing: “How can such a National Agenda be attained if the CoS of the University Teacher keeps worsening year on year leading to an ever-increasing attrition rate on our campuses? (Emphasis mine) Instead of affirming its training capability, UTAG is using its “relatively poor salary stead” to justify its inability to develop capacity, as well as its unwillingness to collaborate to that effect. In other words, existing courses do not target competency and capacity building. UTAG’s admission legitimizes the recent allegation by a graduate that the [universities] are not offering formidable skills to students, which allegation received wide condemnation from the university fraternity.

By implication, teachers are deepening the unemployment situation of Ghanaian graduates. Ideally, before asking for more, one ought to have judiciously, effectively utilized available resources to maximum benefits. How does UTAG justify the relatively good working conditions enjoyed so far – and its quest for more – since it is neglecting capacity building?

Research

UTAG is angling for a raise in research allowance, glossing the poor research culture of the institutions. Currently, for many tertiary learners, research is plagiarizing existing material – labelled grandfather – or paying someone to conduct investigation. The scourge has infected a cross-section of teaching elements who barely possess research skills. Every year, major research funds remain untouched. Why does UTAG jump capacity building to focus on research allowance?

Indeed, one needs major funding for some investigations, but studies can also be conducted frugally. UTAG’s focus should be action and pragmatic research to unearth best practices to save the ailing educational system. Many Ghanaians scramble for overseas studies. In the 60 and 70s, those communities invested heavily in action research, which investment has yielded best classroom practices. Such communities maintain international standards in education, hence, their attraction.

Instead of making a capital allegation of meagre research allowance, why not collaborate with industry? In many countries, effective university research is largely rooted in industrial collaboration. Industry needs capable people to conduct research for innovation. Universities offer the best destination. By not developing capacity, UTAG is its own nemesis. It is only in the debilitating government-must-do-it-all Ghanaian system that universities constantly batter sitting governments for research allowance. UTAG should widen its collaborative networks across the globe, but success depends on high-powered research themes supporting the SDGs, human capacity for integrity and innovation, to mention two.

Skewed Negotiations

Government is partly to be blamed for its skewed negotiation culture, for its consistent failure to insist on diligence, for failing to drive a learner-focused bargain. The PM negotiation is conditioned on unique service, which relevance is not clouded in teacher knowledge only but made tangible through competent graduates. In the past decade, how have the institutions lived up to capacity building for the Ghanaian market? Considering that university teachers have already acquired knowledge and are teaching, how has that knowledge translated into graduates that employers desire? Government’s recommendation to UTAG to collaborate for higher capacity building is a poignant reminder of a very harsh reality. UTAG should not limit PM to itself, for a teacher’s relevance is linked to the learner’s eventual empowerment.

Holding learners to Ransom

Halving the PM equation to make it apply to UTAG only implies holding learners to ransom. The current reality in Ghana is high unemployment, low productivity and poor service delivery. At a time when universities annually “churn out” graduates, how does UTAG answer to dwindling capacity building, poor work ethics vis-à-vis universities’ core values and strategic plans for excellence?

It is time the negotiating paradigm changed to level the ground for government, teachers and learner, for learners’ interests to become an inherent part of the equations on the negotiating table. There are urgent reasons for that. If government paid better attention, it would pick the faint wails of the oppressed learner being submerged by handouts that have dethroned meritocracy in the classroom. Many teachers are speedily losing their grasp for developing learners’ capacity. Universities and tertiary institutions continue to play a dominant role in human capital development. The Ghanaian challenge is adding quality to training.

Currently, it is a harrowing experience to seek services from many in the country – from education through trading, health, building to agriculture – to name five. Both private and public universities in the country proudly “churn out” graduates, yet, performance and quality service delivery, especially from the younger generations, are simply appalling. It is a depraved situation calling for redress. Conditions of service do not exist in a vacuum; it is a motivation for teaching excellence. That dimension has been smothered. Government neglects that balance to the taxpayer’s peril. It will increase salary without the commensurate productivity, as usual, then turn round to fleece the taxpayer. Why is it that government and teachers eat sour grapes, and the taxpayer’s teeth are set on edge?