A ‘Fellow Ghanaians’ Address Is Needed In These Times

Hope is everything. It is a crucial tool that helps you endure the pangs of economic hardship with an assurance that there is a brighter day ahead.

Many are giving up on hope. It needs to be restored. Lost hope is restored through effective communication on what the causes of the challenges are, the steps being taken to rectify the challenges and the reassurance that leadership has not thrown hands in despair but rather working around the clock with a sense of urgency and purpose.

During the recent COVID-19 lockdown, Ghanaians were united in a pandemic and in that unity, looked forward to its end. There was a clear indication from Government that leadership was not standing akimbo doing nothing.

This hope and assurance was not accidental. It was largely propelled by the almost weekly national address from the President, Nana Akufo-Addo to Ghanaians.

The addresses touched on the key issues of what exactly the situation was, steps being taken to contain them and the success stories.

In these current unbearable hard times, it would be worth it for Ghanaians to hear from the President. He should address the country.

The hardship is not being faked. The local currency has become a weak force not worth writing home about. The cost of fuel, utilities, food and essential commodities have become unbearable for a majority of Ghanaians.

The current situation in the country is comparable to the conditions that led to social uprisings and political upheavals in the past.

Thanks to the culture of a growing-democracy where most people have accepted that the best way to revolt is by use of the thumb at the next elections – a state of political maturity- that has glued the country in peace and in one piece.

The unbearable hardships and the continuous nature of it both beg for some clear and effective communication on what exactly the causes are and the solutions if any.

Communication on what the exact problem with our currency is. How it is being solved. What timelines are we looking at? How long are we to endure and how many more inches should we tighten our seat belts?

Our President, just as he did during the COVID lockdown, should once again, be seen as the concerned father of a nation in crisis but firmly in control of the situation and communicating with the nation on the exact steps being taken and timelines for the expected results.

Just as President Akufo-Addo appeared in the homes and offices of Ghanaians across the country during his televised addresses which he often started which his cliché clarion call “Fellow Ghanaians”, he would do the country a lot of good if he can do same during this economic turbulence that does not seem to be willing to go away.

The apparent silence in the face of a currency that has consistently depreciated in value is scary. The silence creates an impression that either nothing of significant is being done by leadership or whatever is being done is not a solution worth sharing.

The New Publisher once again reminds our President and his Government that it is the absence of communication that breeds suspicions and speculations.