GHANA: MAKING THE MOST OUT OF THE OIL DISCOVERY

The discovery of oil in Ghana was sold to Ghanaians by the politicians as a resource that will help elevate their lives(YATEEABRE). Others with the nerve to be inquisitive have noted that there is very little mechanism in place to actually utilize this resource to benefit Ghanaians(HARD REALITY). If indeed there are no mechanism or a strategy to utilize this resource, why then should politicians sweet talk Ghanaians. Most of whom are fed up with the harsh daily economic realities that they do not see our bureaucratic apparatus tackling effectively. They are used to figuring out solutions for themselves and barely receive any benefits of the so called policies that legislators pass in parliament. The challenge for the politicians is to meet Ghanaians half way( AFTER ALL GHANAIANS HAVE MADE COMPROMISES BY SHOWING SERIOUSNESS IN NATION BUILDING BY ENSURING AND SUSTAINING MACROECONOMIC AND POLITICAL STABILITY) Some of the points I have made are common to all of us, but the focus of this piece is not to restate this point but to suggest a sound approach to utilizing this resource. Most peoples concerns and their pursuit of happiness and success has little to do with just currency(MONEY). Money is not the end but the means to an end and no matter how much proceeds the country receives from the sale of natural resources will not solve the problem(MONEY is a means to an end and not an end in itself). Politicians have perpetuated this notion which cripples society in the long run rather than leading to a constructive society where wealth and opportunity is created for all to have a chance of tapping into. One of the biggest lessons to learn is by looking back to when the country was liberated from independence; Dr. Nkrumah took steps that has served as well even in present times. He took steps that will serve the national interest years after he left by providing what the country needed and not just proposing lofty projects that are not in the national interest(the construction of AKOSOMBO DAM still serves as a main source of power supply till this day, the establishment of basic primary education that has helped in transforming our societies in a remarkable way etc). Some of these examples that I have mentioned should be a model on which to construct a functional nation state. Ghana will retain not just its citizens and some of the best minds not just from within but from abroad if it builds the infrastructure that serves as an incentive for private initiative. People will have all kinds of problems that the government cannot solve( TRUE) but there are basic responsibilities that government must take on to make Ghana a place that Ghanaians want to live and raise their children. The life of our economy in the 21^st century rests on the creation of infrastructure that will not only stimulate economic growth but will also have an impact as far as promoting socioeconomic stability. The way to account for Ghana’s resource is by utilizing it effectively to the benefit of its citizens. Coordinating the political intellect and will to focus on constructing a better infrastructure, will sustain Ghana’s economy and social growth&development long after the oil boom and the various parties has reaped their profits. The only way for politicians and Ghanaians to account for the benefit of OIL wealth is through the construction of something Ghanaians can feel and touch and not just talking about the number of barrels and euros or dollars that was received from jubilee fields. All the best to meeting this current challenge.