LET'S HAVE PATIENCE (JUNE 1, 2009)

IT has often been acknowledged that the task of reconstructing or rebuilding any infrastructure or edifice or system that has been destroyed over time, is more difficult and painful than it takes to build that structure.
It is even far easier and, indeed, takes less time to damage or destroy than to repair or rebuild.
This holds good for a nation’s economy, the state of which the living standards of the people depend.
Over the years, Ghanaians have complained loudly that life has been getting more difficult for them in spite of the touting of significant figures of economic growth since the mid 1980s following the launch of the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP).
It cannot be denied that the objective of any organised or systematised economic activity is the improvement in the material conditions of the people. The people can only assert their confidence in the economy if their material conditions improve or begin to show signs of improving in the hope that this will endure and get even better.
There can be no doubt about the fact that the people of this country have over the decades exhibited a substantial degree of sacrifice especially following appeals from our political leaders.
This has been done in the hope and expectation that the sacrifices would help revamp the economy and that the dividends would be fairly and equitably shared to help improve life for all.
In many of these instances, these politicians from whom such appeals emanate fail to live the austere lives of sacrifice they preach so that it would serve as a example to the people.
Instead, they preach austerity and live affluence or extravagant lifestyles.
This clearly cannot engender confidence and inspire the people to further sacrifices. We are happy to note that the Atta Mills government has made the right move to attempt to win the support and confidence of the people in its bid to revamp the economy by going the extra mile to practise austerity and sacrifice.
The re-alignment and reduction in the number of ministries and ministers, the cutdown in the size of government from ministers through government spokespersons to special assistants and personal secretaries, the reduction in presidential and ministerial travels, the cutback in wining and dining at the expense of government, have contributed to cutting down significantly on government expenditure.
The decision to also make judicious use of made-in-Ghana goods or items at state functions and also direct or encourage other institutions of state such as schools to use local instead of imported products, would not only help cut back in imports and conserve foreign exchange but also boost local industries as they get more challenged to meet the growing demand.
In the face of this display of leadership by example by the Atta Mills government and given the fact that it inherited a troubled and unstable economy, which it is enjoined by the mandate of the people to fix, we can only call on Ghanaians to exercise patience and rally behind the government to turn the economy around.
While Ghanaians must continue to make their legitimate demands on the government and hold it to its election pledges, five months into a four-year mandate or term of a government is early days yet. The government, as the President noted, needs all the hard work and support it can get from the people to deliver.
In return we expect the government to work even harder, be more transparent and accountable and let the dividends of economic successes chalked up reflect positively in the lives of all.