Good lessons from gentle Ghanaians

MY FIRST study tour during this term of the KwaZuluNatal Legislature made for interesting learning both politically and socioeconomically.

This was a joint committee visit of Public Participation and Petitions and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

The aim was to learn about the Ghanaian evolution of democracy in terms of people’s activism and local service delivery.

Ghana’s rich history unfolded during this seven day visit, spent in the capital, Accra, with day trips to the Ajumako and Volta regions.

Being a presidential republic, headed by Nana Addo Dankwa, this 10 administrative region country has 230 MPs from two major political parties – the ruling New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress opposition.

The most amazing observation is how deeply religious Ghanaians are with a 71. 2% Christian, 17.6% Muslim and other traditional population of 27 million, in totality of which there are only about 3 000 Indians.

Interacting with the public, it was noticeable how gentle, caring and peaceful Ghanaians were, practising the motto “first sort out any difference by talking and understanding, instead of fighting”.

In this way, people of all cultures live side by side and visitors are made to feel at home.

The Ajumako Central Region has a labour intensive, mixed crop farming project funded by the World Bank and managed by local representatives.

Gsop, or the Ghana Social Opportunities Project, is a three-year project whereby locals are paid for time worked on farms, planting maize, coconut and rubber trees, ground nuts, pawpaws and plantains. The labourers are paid by World Bank officials weekly.

The Community Transparency and Accountability board is something South African recipients of donor funding should embrace, so development is ensured.

A departure in social policy, though, compared to SA, is that Ghanaians do not receive state grants and have to work even in their old age.

Traditional leadership and chieftaincy is recognised constitutionally but chiefs cannot be politicians too. They own most of the land and allow projects on these to benefit their subjects.

Traditional leaders are paid minimal stipends and are governed by a Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs. Any local disputes are arbitrated by chiefs, so courts are not overwhelmed; again, something we can embrace.

Another refreshing trip was to the Volta region: the majestic Lake Volta is the largest artificial lake in the world by surface area.

Here an off-site dam is being built, funded by the UN Development Programme through the Norwegian government in Torve-Akatsi.

This area floods annually, destroying the agricultural produce, hence the river water overflow will be siphoned off to this new dam and used for farm irrigation during droughts or the hot season.

Similarly, South Africa needs to adapt to climate change and build more dams in the rural areas.

Another government initiative was the placing of boreholes in schools, so that learners and the local rural communities have access to fresh ground water.

In terms of local government activities, the honourable chairperson, Patricia Appiagyei, spoke passionately about grassroots participation in decisionmaking, since at a local level leaders are chosen directly by the people and are not aligned to political parties.

The Economic Development and Employment Ministry is an achievement worth emulating, headed by a deputy minister of employment, whereby a 2015 legislative act birthed a youth employment agency, shaped by 12 models – for example, youth in health or agriculture. Every university graduate is given a one-year mandatory public or private internship – in fact, our KZN delegation was chaperoned by a charismatic political intern.

Another policy, of “one district one factory”, bodes well for job creation in a labour-intensive secondary manufacturing sector, a sector we need to strengthen.

Therefore, on learning from a country of great minds, such as Kwame Nkrumah and Kofi Annan, much can be achieved in terms of good governance and state administration.

On the business front, opportunities abound, as Ghana is a strategic trade partner to South Africa.

This was a trip enjoyed in a politically stable and peaceful country, home to PanAfricanism. And hopefully a mango tree planted by our very own Mandela in 1991, at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, will bear fruit to strengthen our African roots.

To end with, my favourite Ghanaian word, medaw’ase: meaning ‘thank you’ for the generous hospitality.