Features
The Nigerian example
One of the things Nigerians are well noted for is their aggressiveness in going after things they desire and I believe it is a positive attribute that we as Ghanaians, must emulate.
We have been talking about import substitution as a means of stabilising our currency and yet not much is being done about it. The Nigerians also recognised that this is something they need to tackle and what did they do?
They closed their borders to prevent rice from being brought into the country and made a conscious effort to let the population eat locally produced rice and it had a positive impact on their economy.
A lot of neighbouring countries including Ghana complained about they not being given advance notice of their intended action regarding the border closure but they did not reverse their decision until the appropriate time they had set for themselves. Nigeria today has become self sufficient in rice production.
It is worthy of note that the man behind the success story of Nigeria as far as rice production is concerned, is a Ghanaian. That is one of the things that we need to address. We do not appreciate our own.
God has given us immense talents but we fail to recognise their worth. The whole United Nations once had its General Secretary as a Ghanaian, in the person of late Kofi Annan.
When you go around the world, you would find Ghanaians in very unique top positions and doing very well in their various roles. They are contributing significantly to the development of those countries and yet look at their own country Ghana.
There must be something fundamentally wrong with how we deal with our own kind given how highly qualified Ghanaians in the diaspora are unwilling to come home to help in our developmental effort.
A serious conscious effort must be made to identify the causes and address the issues for the benefit of our great country so the Ghana Beyond Aid becomes a reality.
What I have come to realise is that when it comes to national development efforts, we do not need to reinvent the wheel. What countries like Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia etc. did to reach where they are today, can easily be copied and maybe tweaked a little to suit our environment and implement fir our development.
Our economic growth can easily be achieved by emulating certain policies of these developed nations without necessarily doing something entirely different. Of course we need to continually innovate if we want to maintain our competitive edge but the policies that has contributed to the growth of the Asian Tigers can easily be copied and implemented.
The Ghana beyond Aid must become a national agenda if we are to make any headway in our socio-economic development because if we not have a destination in mind, we can never arrive.
We have gone to the IMF 17 times and the time has come for us to say enough is enough. We must adopt the Ghana Beyond Aid as a national vision which would then compel whichever government is in place to implement policies that feeds into this vision.
This is the surest way to ensure our development as a nation and one of the policies required to achieve the vision is the implementation of the Nigerian example. Why should we still import rice, import tomatoes, import onions etc.?
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Features
The power of change: Understanding the process and catalysts
CHANGE is an inevitable and essential aspect of life, shaping individuals, organizations, and societies. It can be transformative, leading to growth, innovation, and progress. But how is change created?
This comprehensive article explores the process and catalysts of change.
The Change Process
The change process involves several stages:
1. Awareness: Recognising the need for change.
2. Assessment: Evaluating the current state.
3. Visioning: Envisioning the desired future state.
4. Planning: Developing strategies and action plans.
5. Implementation: Executing the plan.
6. Evaluation: Monitoring progress and making adjustments.
Catalysts of Change
Several factors can catalyse change:
1. Internal Motivation: Personal or organisational desire for improvement.
2. External Pressures: Market trends, technological advancements, or regulatory requirements.
3. Leadership: Visionary leaders driving change.
4. Crisis: Forced change due to unexpected events.
5. Innovation: New ideas and technologies.
Types of Change
Change can be:
1. Incremental: Gradual, small-scale changes.
2. Transformational: Radical, large-scale changes.
3. Strategic: Planned, deliberate changes.
4. Emergent: Spontaneous, unplanned changes.
Change Management
Effective change management involves:
1. Communication: Clear messaging and stakeholder engagement.
2. Training: Developing skills and knowledge.
3. Support: Providing resources and guidance.
4. Monitoring: Tracking progress and addressing challenges.
Resistance to Change
Resistance can arise due to:
1. Fear: Uncertainty and anxiety.
2. Habit: Comfort with the status quo.
3. Lack of Understanding: Insufficient information.
4. Power Dynamics: Threats to authority or control.
Overcoming Resistance
Strategies to overcome resistance include:
1. Education: Providing information and context.
2. Involvement: Engaging stakeholders in the change process.
3. Support: Addressing concerns and fears.
4. Leadership: Demonstrating commitment and vision.
Sustaining Change
To sustain change:
1. Embed Change: Integrate new practices and behaviors.
2. Monitor Progress: Continuously evaluate and adjust.
3. Celebrate Successes: Recognize achievements.
4. Maintain Momentum: Keep the change process moving.
Conclusion
Change is a complex and multifaceted process. Understanding the change process, catalysts, and management strategies can help individuals and organizations navigate and create meaningful change.
Recommendations
1. Develop a Change Mindset: Embrace change as an opportunity.
2. Build Change Capacity: Develop skills and resources.
3. Foster a Culture of Change: Encourage innovation and experimentation.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
Features
This question of love
The question of love is something that will be talked about until kingdom come.
A discussion I observed on the internet about a 19 year old who had accepted the proposal of a 67 year old man reminded me of the preaching of Pastor Mensa Otabil.
He talked about the a scenario where a 60 year old man enters into a relationship with a 22 year old lady and the lady tells him I love you, when he has a protruded belly, with all the accompanying creases and he believes what she says.
He further went on to say that a whole grown up man, allows a young lady to call him “babe” and he does not feel offended.
He further went on to preach that, this young lady, young enough to be his daughter, says “babe, I love you” and this man sheepishly laughs and does not realise, he is being taken advantage of.
What keeps ringing in my ears is his statement that “what is there to love about a protruding sagging belly?”
There is no regulated way for how a person falls in love. It reminds me of a funny statement that Pastors or marriage counsellors often use, that if you fall in love, you may hurt yourself.
Love I believe is a beautiful thing but it is not something that should be toyed with. People getting into relationships should consider the realities that are bound to happen as the years go by.
Jealousy is a very destructive influence. It can influence a person to harm his wife or her husband or to even commit murder. There has been countless reported instances where a man has poured acid on his wife or girlfriend, slashed his wife to death with a cutlass because he suspected, the wife was cheating on him.
It is something that blinds one to right reasoning and once your reasoning stops functioning, then the wrong side of us takes over and the result is nothing to write home about. In most cases, it comes out after the horrible act has been perpetrated, that there was no truth in the issue that caused the jealousy, after all. However, a life would have been maimed, disfigured or destroyed forever.
One of the causes of jealousy in marriage is the age gap difference. Whether we like it or not we shall grow old one day if God by his grace enables us to live long. When we grow old, a lot of changes occur in our bodies and things we used to do with ease, suddenly become a huge challenge and it could be very frustrating.
One of the things that drives a man crazy is when he has grown weaker in bed and sees the wife interacting with younger men in a suspicious manner that seems to suggest that there is more to it than meets the eye.
Jealousy will definitely be kindled in the heart of such a man whose wife is far younger than him like this 67 year old man wanting to marry a 19 year young lady.
In 30 years’ time, this man will be 97 and his muscles would have become weaker affecting his erection. His wife would be 49 and will have to be satisfied in bed in a manner that this man cannot execute. What do you think is going to happen?
Marriage Counsellors advocate that the ideal age gap between marriage partners should not be more than 10 years. This is one way to eliminate suspicions which results in mistrust when the man grows old and gets weaker because it is a known fact that sex is very important to men than women.
A man becomes very worried when his sexual performance level drops. This is what causes some men to act in a manner that is condemnable. My advice, walk into love, don’t fall into it. God bless.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
