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Is Economics caving in on the altar of facts checking?

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The first week of April 2019 was a significant and important period in Ghana’s political landscape. I say so, because, we saw within that period, the two main political parties descend into the realm of intellectual discourse on the challenges facing the Republic. I was particularly elated and at the same time puzzled. I was elated because, for a long while, our political space got engrossed in discussions that matter most to the ordinary Ghanaian. It was not about the shameful acts of hoodlums beautifully decorated as “vigilantes” seizing public toilet(s) or besieging district courts ostensibly to free their men who have been arranged before a lawfully constituted court for various crimes, or the beating up of senior party officials. Or, the bloody display of impudence which heralds the Ayewaso by-election after the painful demise of Hon. Agyarko. It was instead about discussions on the economy of Ghana; what has been achieved and what we can accomplish together as a people desirous
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West Africa’s Energy Sector Developments: Does the Sub-Regionalised approach to energy provision provide the optimal option towards the attainment of Energy Access and Security?

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http://www.pp.u-tokyo.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/51168230.pdf
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Voters’ Sentiment and Propensity to Vote in The Wake of Internal Squabbling in Election Management Bodies: The Case of Ghana’s Electoral Commission

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http://www.globalpoliticsreview.com/publications/2464-9929_v04_i01_p031.pdf
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Securing a safer LPG Market in Ghana: Government must separate LPG activities from the remit of National Petroleum Authority

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Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) which is a by-product of natural gas extraction consists mainly of hydrocarbons and are an efficient, clean and cheap source of energy for both commercial and domestic use. Global use of LPG is primarily for domestic cooking and also for heating. Increasing access to LPG use is identified as the most plausible solution path for the attainment of United Nation’s goal of global access to clean cooking energy by 2030 (The World Bank, 2011). In that sense, various national governments have pursued and still pursuing aggressive policies directly or subtly at expanding LPG use. In Ghana, the campaign about LPG use started in the 1990’s and has since seen demand grow steadily especially among households [domestic use] in the urban cities. Demand is expected to reach a minimum of 5.9 million metric tons by the end of 2022 (Tei-Mensah, 2014). However, the LPG blessing is turning out to be a curse in Ghana owing to recently increased fire outbreaks/accidents espec
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WHY SPEND WHAT YOU DO NOT HAVE?

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The 2018 budget statement and economic policy of Government envision an overall deficit budget of Gh¢10,971.4 million representing 4.5 percent of GDP. Projected total revenue based on the economic outlook for 2018 show that about GH¢51,039.1 million will to be mobilised in the form of domestic revenue and grants. This represents 21.1 percent of GDP. In the same period, the government plans to spend GH¢62,010.3 million representing 25.7 percent of GDP. Meaning that government intends to spend more than its projected income by an amount of Gh¢10,971.4 million. The financing gap will be filled with borrowings from domestic and foreign sources. Simply put, we plan to spend what we do not have. Such has been the sad story of the Republic’s public financial management for a long time. The FY2018 deficit, however, is an improvement on 2017 figures. In 2017, the total projected outlook deficit is GH¢12,887.2 (6.3 percent of GDP). In percentage change, the 2018 deficit is 14.9 percent less th
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Sustaining the free secondary School Policy of Ghana

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In recent times, teething challenges in Ghana’s free secondary education policy including congestion in classrooms, inadequate dormitories, and delays in disbursement of feeding grants have engaged the attention of many Ghanaians. Some individuals in the opposition, NDC have even postulated about the possible extermination of the programme within the next five years. The frank discussion is, however, particularly interesting to me because as we say “a government is like a waiter in a noisy restaurant, you must necessarily speak up before you can catch her attention”. And so, discussion on any government policy is a good one and potentially could force a change to various parts of the policy. It becomes uninteresting when we reduce everything to comic as Hassan Ayariga of the APC as usual took the discussion to the playhouse and exorcised the somewhat lively debate. Until the timely intervention by Dr Raymond Atuguba, I had switched my faculty antenna from the discussion. Dr Atuguba a
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Neglected issues in the fight against Corruption

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In her epistle dated 19th May 2016, titled “Letter from Africa: Is corruption just stealing? (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36316702)”, and published by the BBC, the Ghanaian writer and opposition politician- her description then- Hon. Elizabeth Ohene took on the herculean task of discussing graft, a subject not many politicians would at their own will dare discuss. I have read that piece many times, reflecting the intent and also thinking if indeed, Hon. Ohene’s bravery at that piece epitomised her rectitude when she held public office during the former President Kuffour’s era? The answer does not come easy. But, since she left office, I have not heard of a single rumour of graft against her, and that might explain her share size of audacity in discussing this topic many of her kind shy away from. In the epistle, she made one outstanding point about graft, and I quote “Corruption simply does not carry the same odium as stealing or thievery. The word [corruption] has been saniti
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Climate Warming is a hoax? Trump and America First Mantra!

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“Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make them mad”. The Akan adage has found meaning with me on the heels of the unfortunate withdrawal of the United States of America from the landmark Climate Agreement reached in 2015 in Paris. President Trump’s announcement of US’s withdrawal from the Accord which is underpinned by the voluntary emission commitment and signed on by over 195 countries around the world, in my opinion, represent the most deleterious 21st-century political massacre of science and scientific indagation and collective global diplomacy. This single action further demonstrates the dwindling hegemonic prowess of America and as a leader in international relations. “The gods”, indeed, have relieved America of her hegemony as manifested in her petrifying leadership of President Trump and Scott Pruitt- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head. The problem of Pittsburg is of Paris, and so is Phusro in India and Phuket in Thailand. Our world has become integrated b
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