Ghana's Economic, Social and Political Underdevelopment Three Important Phases - Case Study Example

GHANAS ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL UNDERDEVELOPMENT THREE IMPORTANT PHASES: HISTORICAL, CONTEMPORARY, SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE Contents Sr.# TopicPg. # 1. Abstract 2 2. Introduction 2 3. Social, Political, & Economical Underdevelopment in Ghana 3 4. Current Scenario & Future Perspective 5 5. Conclusion 6 Bibliography 7 1. Abstract Ever since the end of World War II, significant efforts aimed at bringing about rapid development and transformation among the third world / developing countries have been observed, including the quest for improving the living standards, and other social, economic and political developments with varying degrees of results, as to the attainment of the said objectives. This paper on probes the social, economic and political underdevelopment of developing nations, especially Ghana, and seeks to investigate into the probable causes for its apparent lack of progress, the current state of its socio – economic and political status and deliberations concerning the future of the nation. 2. Introduction The Republic of Ghana is a West African nation, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote dIvoire and Togo, formed out of a former Colony and is the first sub Saharan country in colonial Africa to regain its independence. Like other developing nations, Ghana too shares a common trait, that of existence of a wide range of disparity in the ethnic and cultural formation of its people. Ghanaians can be categorized into over 60 different ethnic groups all having their own distinct traditions, languages, ambitions and grievances and are divided into four main groups: Akan speakers, the Gadangbe, Mole - Dagbani, and the Ewe. There also exist wide disparities between the rich and the poor classes in Ghana, although as compared to international standards, such disparities are relatively quite moderate1. Some of its key features are mentioned below: GHANA:2 Government Type Constitutional Democracy Total Population 23,832,495 Rate of Urbanization 3.5% p.a. GDP Per Capita $1500 Research Questions: 1. What are the key causes of the social, political and economic underdevelopment in Ghana? and 2. What is the role of the Government in fostering development in the region? 3. Social, Political, & Economical Underdevelopment in Ghana Ghana, during the initial years of colonial rule, was entirely focused on establishing and developing its infrastructure, especially transportation, with a view to address the needs of the international trade. The underdevelopment of the country’s prolific resources combined with its prospective and awkward evolution to a capitalist production was analogous to its socio – political levels and the underdevelopment of its social classes. The colonial era bore testimony to the stratification of the rural areas into varying levels of economic class comprising of rich farmers, a middle peasantry and an indebted peasantry as well as a migrant agricultural labor force. The social classes which came into existence during the colonial rule are clearly reflected in the social formation of individuals who participated in the famous Ghana cocoa boycott during 1937 – 38. Thus the roots of such social classes which eventually led to the social divide, were sown during the colonial period, which are today, referred to as the Third World.3 The formation and hence existence of such numerous ethnic groups within the country has and continues to cause innumerable clashes among them leading to social strain. Moreover, the failure of Ghanaian leaders to unite people belonging to all ethnic groups and involve them in a meaningful and prolific solidarity so as to achieve their nation building mission, further led to fostering of negative feelings of non co-operation, sterile ethnic enmity and a complete lack of national consciousness. Such a failure on the part of the Ghanaian leadership has not only endorsed collapse of the country’s socio - economic developmental efforts but also destabilized the foundation for the organization of a strong "collectivistic ethic" in Ghana4. 4. Current Scenario & Future Perspective The lack of ability on the part of the central government to develop enduring solutions to the country’s current economic woes has led to the development of an atmosphere filled with agitation, disappointment, and fury. In addition, the unmet needs and the want of assurance in social institutions to defend a normative system have made the citizens cynical about any guarantees pledged by their leaders. Moreover, the country is faced with dire economic distress. Low wages in the face of widespread unemployment, and the politicians demanding lenient contributions from the general public in the form of taxes as a way to increase and improve its economic austerity, has thrust the nation towards savage poverty, which is insidious and gut wrenching, occasionally confronting human comprehension, ceasing the normalization of abnormal living conditions and pushing the population to a state which no human being should be subjected to in the twenty first century. However, measures implemented by the government to restructure the vicious economic plight of the people in Ghana as well as other areas of the country have for the most part, proved overwhelming and vain.5 Besides these, one of the supreme challenges faced by the Ghanaian leaders continue to face, even today, is the tendency to favor primeval ethnic loyalties which are given greater significance than those afforded to the nation state, as a whole, and the leaders are powerless to promote development of strong cultural assimilation. This complete absence of a cohesive national consciousness poses a major risk to the socio economic development in the region and hence in order to address such impediments the Ghanaians must concentrate on the enduring developmental programs aimed at individual development, which aims to provide them an enhanced opportunity of nurturing cultural accord and hence a distinctive national consciousness. Several short as well as long term economic policies premeditated by the government in association with certain international organizations have at times, degenerated the plight of the urban and rural poor in the country. The consequences of all such policies have so far met with the same end result: that of betrayal and an unrelenting impoverishment at almost all levels of the Ghanaian societal structure. 5. Conclusion On the basis of the above discussions and deliberations it is easy to estimate that in the absence of a productive economy, production of goods and services of desired quality, and which may be used for national (as well as international) consumption, and redistribution, the Ghanaians must, strive to overcome their underdevelopment, through elimination of ethnic clashes, among other fruitful means, such as democracy, good governance, and the effective implementation of rule of law. The government must actively participate in development of effective national level policies which ensure that their citizens enjoy complete freedom with regard to access to full range of civil as well as political rights, including freedom of speech, press, association, and assembly; and fundamentally the freedom of political democracy, since these very rights enable the governments to indulge in accountable and transparent policy making whereby the national resources are utilized for safeguarding the economic and human rights of its citizens. Bibliography Arthur, J. A., (2008). The African Diaspora in the United States and Europe: The Ghanaian Experience, Ashgate Publishing Ltd., Pp. 30 - 31 Ghana, viewed: June 8, 2009, from: Howard, R., (1978). Colonialism and Underdevelopment in Ghana, Taylor & Francis Publication, Pp. 23 - 24 Naylor, R., (2000). Ghana, Oxfam Publishing, Pp. 5 - 29 Tettey, W., Puplampu, K. P., Berman, B. J., (2003). Critical Perspectives in Politics and Socio - Economic Development in Ghana, BRILL, Pp. 130 Read More