28 July 2011
Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings stirred the hornet’s nest on Tuesday, when she told a group of women from 25 African countries participating in an international programme in Accra that economic conditions in Ghana make it one of the most expensive nations in Africa to live in.
It is a universally acknowledged truth that cost of living in this country is rising above the means of the ordinary people. Since the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) took the centre stage of governance, with the inauguration of President John Evans Atta Mills on January 7, 2011, prices of goods and services keep rocketing by the day.
Ironically, this is the time that the Ghana Statistical Service has been recording lowering inflation figures anytime monthly statistics were released. It is one mystery that has defied rationalisation.
At a time inflation is said to be falling faster than ripe mangoes, prices of goods and services are rising, in some cases, higher than the Afadjato Mountain.
It is one phenomenon that economists have been unable to rationalise. Tuesday’s assertion by the former First Lady, who challenged the sitting President for the right to lead the NDC into the 2012 presidential election, was disputed by Mr. Mathias Kwame Ntow, NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Aowin, on an Accra private television station.
According to the NDC MP, it could not be true that life in Ghana has gotten harder under the so-called Better Ghana agenda. His statement received a number of rebuttals from a number of Ghanaians, who sent in text messages narrating how difficult it is to eke out a living in the new dispensation, led by the former law lecturer.
It may not be the best of examples to use those who sent in text messages to gauge the mood of the country. All the same, it is difficult to ignore the almost 5-1 verdict in favour of those who are complaining about how the economy is unable to cater for the welfare of the ordinary Ghanaian.
The Chronicle would like to believe that the Finance Minister and his lieutenants who plan the economy would consider the views of ordinary Ghanaians, who are reeling under the weight of austerity now threatening to break the backs of the people.
We do not believe the assertion by Deputy Finance Minister Fifi Kwetey that Mrs. Rawlings’ statement could not be supported by the facts on the ground, and that she was speaking for herself, as the best means of addressing the major concerns of all Ghanaians.
Nana Konadu Agyeman might not be the darling of the Castle. Her challenge to the President threw out quite a bit of garbage in the arsenal of the Presidency. But, her statement has struck an accord with the majority of Ghanaians.
If the government chooses to ignore her sentiments, and carry on with business as usual, the repercussions on the country’s body politic might not be pleasant.
It is a shame that in this day and age, the ruling party chooses to rely on propaganda to deal with serious matters of state. That is why, in our opinion, the NDC has established a whole outfit to mislead the people of Ghana, in order that in the opinion of those who conceived the idea, the government, and the party propping it up, might look good in the minds of the ordinary people of Ghana.
Ghana is expensive to live in. From rent, through transport, school fees, and medication to food, the cost of living is driving the people mad. The government has a duty to address these concerns.
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