The Strike

A few months ago Ghana’s doctors went on strike. So as to not be outdone, teachers went on strike last week as well. These two professions have more in common than their love of strike. They are the two most underperforming and dangerous group of “professionals” in Ghana. One’s multitude of mistakes and apathy kill you instantly, while the other one unleashes a serum that kills you for life. Out of all the unprofessional groups in Ghana, why them? Aren’t the MPs doing even less? Yes, I agree that in a society where no one is working and where one’s apathy is measured in relation to the other that Ghana’s teachers and doctors are no worse than the system which produced them.

This is why I believe that the only group of people who SHOULD go on strike in Ghana are the returnees. This group consists of Ghanaians born or educated abroad and have returned with passion and zeal to give back. This group operates businesses in a country where quality human resource is as rare as snow. They seek to open community centers, better schools, clinics, healthy restaurants, clothing stores and more. They are experts in everything a developing country could need. They speak all the languages of the world. They seek to provide for Ghanaians the standard of living found elsewhere. They returned because of their love for their country and want to see it develop on par with other countries. To top it off, they are using their sweat and hard earned monies to help Ghana get there.

They flock into Ghana each year more than the last. They also flock out as fast. But before leaving in silence, they should strike. They should let the rest of the country know what their frustrations have been. From acquiring land, getting licenses, paying taxes, registering their businesses, finding trustworthy human resource that won’t run out with a bag of toilet roll with the same zest as a bag of money. They need to let the rest of Ghana know how long and how much money it costs them to clear anything from a package to a container. They should also let the government know how much bribe is paid just to get people to do their jobs. Not to go the extra mile, but just to wake up from slumber and actually do the job that tax payers monies already pay for.

I cannot begin to count how many people lost businesses in Ghana during 2006-2008 due to the extreme power rationing. I know many people who lost entire savings and ran back to where they came from. But the electricity is not the only problem. I know people in Adenta who never had water from the City. I know people who do not depend on the State for water, electricity, gas or internet access. And we all know how expensive it is to operate a restaurant without water. How many times have you gone into a restaurant and they have had problems getting gas this morning to cook the food? Or how many seamstresses have lost costumers because the lack of electricity meant that they weren’t able to finish an order. How many doctors have accidentally killed a patient due to electricity and or gas problems blended with apathy? These are not rare occasions. We all have those stories.

And yet the returnee is taking it. Not because they have nowhere else to go, but because they truly love this country and want to make it better. They see a future and want Ghana part of it. But before we all leave, let’s strike. I’m in!