GHANA “STABLE BUT GOVERNMENT SPENDS LIKE A DRUNKEN SAILOR” Ghana is deemed a haven of stability in west Africa, a where elections are managed smoothly, and where electoral disputes are resolved by judges. The contribution of agriculture to GDP was about £4bn in 2010, and by 2012 it had reached about £5bn. Industry, including oil and mining, brought in about £2.5bn in 2010, now that figure is over £6bn. The services sector is the biggest contributor to Ghanas GDP, providing over 50% of income. But there are also complaints of financial mismanagement by successive Ghanaian governments. Ghanas budget deficit is one of the highest in Africa, 70% of state income is used to pay salaries in a bloated public sector, and inflation is rising fast. Ghana is not spending money efficiently, compounding the problem of low government income with poor results for the money it has. In addition, there is lack of scrutiny of government policy and executive power. Of 55 countries in Africa, Ghana is one of only 13 democracies, said George Ayittey, founder of the Free African Foundation. Free and fair elections are not enough to count as a democracy. In Ghana we need to reform the electoral system. “Our government is bloated – there are more than 80 ministers. Our wage bill for the civil service consumes 70% of government income. And the government is so hungry for money that it slaps tariffs on anything that moves. Ghanaians are overtaxed, and the government is spending like a drunken sailor.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 23:58:28 +0000