Editorial
The Ghana Cedi – A mirage?
Dear Editor,
Having the Ghana cedi with you is like beholding a mirage ahead of you. It may come to you in very bulk quantities but its strength is fleeting when you analyse your daily cost and expenditure.
There are basic needs in life. Everyone has a need. Needs are real and they must be met. Our needs may vary from food, to good clothing, to a comfortable shelter – a cosy place to accommodate yourself, to good means of transportation, to costs of getting good education or higher degrees, to settling telephone, electricity, gas and water bills amongst others.
One must eat good and healthy foods to stay fit and strong. These comprise vegetables and fruits, carbohydrates and cereals, legumes, fish, meat to mention a few. Yet all these come at a cost.
Your means of transportation from one point to another to get to work or to pursue an important transaction would be either your own car or a public transportation system. Just imagine you ply from Tabora to Kaneshie both close points in Accra. Your Uber costs would be GH¢ 30 cedis to Kaneshie and GH¢ 30 cedis back to Tabora, totalling GH¢ 60 cedis.
You realise after getting back to Tabora that you have to quickly go back to Kaneshie because you left an important transaction untouched or that you did a wrong transaction on your first trip.
You would end up spending GH¢ 120 in all covering the entire trip. How much do you have to spend or spare in a day? Yet this is a dire need.
Next, is the cost of raising a family. Most pre-schools take about GH GH¢ 5,000 per term. So , assuming you have three or more children the cost you incur on their education would be tens of thousands of Ghana cedis per term.
The average Ghanaian marries at age 30. Being 30 years at the point of marriage implies you have 30 more years to retirement ( for males ) and 35 more years( for females).This is how the working career of an average Ghanaian professional looks after marriage. At retirement it is likely some of your wards or kids would be studying in the university or would be at the starting point of their working career having just completed the university.
As you picture all these, could luxury be enjoyed at the point of retirement? What other investment opportunities or options would be available so your money today would be much worth better for you tomorrow?
Farming, a private business or a chain of private businesses like owning a shop, a school or a hospital? The issue is that the strength of the cedi may suggest that you think your dreams through with proper planning, prayer and preparation.
Ebenezer K N Baiden-Amissah
P O Box LG 1254
Legon, Accra.
Telephone +233245310380
Editorial
ECG PowerApp: A mixed bag of technical issues, uncredited payment concerns
Dear Editor,
On February 18, 2020, the former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, launched the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) PowerApp, a mobile application designed in-house by staff of ECG.
It was to improve its service delivery to its customers.
The development of the app also meant that customers of ECG would now have the opportunity to purchase power and pay bills using their mobile phones.
That means customers of ECG would no longer have to join long queues to purchase power, but could now do that at their own convenience and in the comfort of their homes.
According to the Communication Officer, the PowerApp has increased annual revenue growth for the company.
He said as of April 2024, the new application system had increased its annual revenue growth by 128 per cent as compared to the old system at negative seven per cent.
Despite these reasons for which the app was developed and the benefits it has brought to ECG, there have been growing concerns among a section of the public on its use.
Some have argued that they were not credited after using the app to recharge their prepaid meter while the money was deducted from their MoMo accounts.
Such experience has made some customers vow not use the app to recharge their prepaid meters but rather go to prepaid vendors nearby to purchase credit. Some are even prepared to travel to far places to purchase prepaid credits.
I think such experience does not speak well of ECG because it could affect public trust in the company in its service delivery. This is the more reason why the ECG has to take the concerns raised by its customers seriously.
Kofi Bruce,
Mampong
Editorial
Our women can deliver
Dear Editor,
I write to congratulate the women that have so far caught the attention of President John Dramani Mahama for ministerial appointment.
So far, over 10 women have been vetted already and they all gave a very good account of themselves and I hope that they perform to the best of their abilities.
This is a good sign from President Mahama who demonstrated a strong resolve to provide an enabling environment for the women to be part of decision making by choosing a woman as his Vice President.
And true to his word, a number of women have been appointed in ministerial positions and others as presidential staffers.
I believe the other appointments to come would also have women making the cut.
This would be a morale booster for the young women out there who thinks that their position is the kitchen or in a man’s house as a wife.
This is a clear case of women given the urge to aim to rise above what society and traditional norms have set for them. I wish them well.
Maame Atta,
Kokompe
