Any ardent reader of this column knows I’m a Muslim, a very devoted one at that. But there is this Christian song we sang in school, which has never stopped ringing in my head. I do not remember the exact words. But the theme of the song is for people to count their blessings, name them one by one, and it would surprise them what the Good Lord had done in their lives.
We live in a country predominated by Christians. Many of them sing the song mentioned earlier and other related songs every day. But I doubt if many of them ever live by the tenets of those songs as they are the loudest in lamentations over the economic hardships in the country today. Same can be said of most people of my faith, who have decided to pay no heed to the Bearded Old Man’s advice to appreciate His ‘rahma’ (grace) in their life.
No one can deny the fact that there is economic hardship in Asomdwekrom today. But so are other economies across the globe. That alone should tell us that the hardship being endured by me and my folks cannot be as a result of mismanagement or incompetence.
For sure, things are not rosy in the country today. But it will be disingenuous or hypocritical to say President Ogwanfunu’s governance is better than what we are seeing today. How could anyone in his or her right senses argue that living in ‘dumsor’ for 4 years was better than a ‘dumsor-free’ economy? The harm the ‘dumsorised’ economy caused the manufacturing, service and educational sectors can never be quantified.
Need I remind my folks of the number of companies that collapsed under the ‘dumsorised’ economy? Have we forgotten so soon how cost of production tripled because of the use of generators? Have we also forgotten the sleepless nights as a result of severe atmospheric heat?
Yes, all can see how the US dollar is sprinting like Usain Bolt against the cedi. Being a country so reliant on imports, the managers of the economy must employ radical measures to reduce imports and increase exports. Clearly, the intermittent injection of few billions of dollars in the economy has failed woefully in stabilising the cedi.
Be that as it may, we should not overlook the fact that the economic situation in the country could have been worse under a clueless government. The global economy, ours inclusive, is worsening by the day and all leaders are struggling to have fiscal stability and make life better for their citizens.
We all saw how Boris Johnson was compelled to resign as British Prime Minister and handover to Liz Truss. Boris’ compatriots have realized, though belatedly, that his successor, is worse. Is it any wonder that Liz Truss has resigned after six turbulent weeks in office, making her the shortest-serving Prime Minister in British history?
My point is very simple: The current global economic turmoil is too debilitating to find ‘an economic messiah’ anywhere. The Zu-za folks seeking the resurrection of the Dead-Goat know that too well. But they are only doing so for their own parochial interest.
By all means let’s criticise when we should. But let’s also appreciate the fact that today’s economic hardship is global. We should be happy to have a government that ensures that ‘dumsor’ never sees the light of day again. Despite the economic difficulties, ‘Agenda111’ is progressing steadily, nursing and teacher trainees continue to receive their allowances, Free SHS is still on, roads are being built, and model schools continue to spring up.
Indeed, when we count our blessings and name them one by one, we shall surely be surprised to see what Nana Addo has done. As Dr. Kwame Okro once said, “Those who would judge us merely by the heights we have achieved, would do well to remember the depths from which we started.”
See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!