Gordon Asare-Bediako Writes: Economic Turbulence: One More Fellow Ghanaians Address Needed To Calm Nerves

Gordon Asare-Bediako Writes: Economic Turbulence: One More Fellow Ghanaians Address Needed To Calm Nerves

It is trite knowledge that Ghana’s challenging economy, is as a result of mainly extraneous factors than local. These challenges have now led to the US dollar appreciating against the cedi, as experience by most countries, at an alarming rate.

Never in the history of this country have we seen so many people, traders, non-traders, ordinary people and even foreign residents in Ghana rushing to purchase the US dollars.

This demand-caused event has led to prices of goods climbing up at astronomical levels. Many traders have also taken advantage of this unfortunate situation to increase the prices of items at outrageous levels.

Ghanaians are weeping, Mr. President; we are gnashing our teeth over the hardships we are seeing. It is important to mention that, Mr. President, most people are not necessarily blaming you for the hardships they are experiencing; but rather, your seemingly lack of concern about their plights.

Mr. President, all the people are asking for is for you to show concern. They want you to show concern through periodic addresses to them. They need you to be engaging them with your FELLOW GHANAIANS addresses.

You comforted us during the COVID-19 pandemic period. You assured us of your fatherly love for us. You outlined the measures to dealing with the situation we found ourselves in.

Even your dressing code, the local fabrics you wore became instant hits as many people started adopting and rocking Made-in-Ghana clothing. We want to see you in a similar fashion during this period of economic turmoil as well.

We know you to be conservative by nature but Mr. President, this is not the time to hold on firmly to a principle that does not show how concerned you are about our plights.

Civil Society Organizations have called on you to speak to the nation, your own party people have been clamoring for your addresses, very influential persons in society including the clergy are also asking you to address the nation. All of these people cannot be wrong, Mr. President.

There are certain events which can be bequeathed to subordinates to handle, but this is not one of them. Nobody in your government would be listened to over this except you yourself!

Address the nation and carry all of us along. Show concern, appeal to us to calm down as you used to, let us know the measures being rolled out to soften the excruciating pains we are going through.

Mr. President, we are suffocating, we are being strangulated by these hardships and require your soothing words, your assuring promises to calm us down.

People increasing the prices of their goods would only stop if you ask them to. Let them know that their actions do not only affect you but they themselves, their children and the future generation of Ghanaians.

Mr. President, let not this call fall on deaf ears. Come into our homes with your FELLOW GHANAIANS series to calm tensions. Ghanaians need you to show the way. They know how you led the country through the turbulent times of COVID-19 with your forthnightly addresses.

We remember how you told us that we know how to fix the economy but not how to bring back lives that perish. In all humility, permit me to quote you verbatim: “We know how to bring the economy back but we don’t know how to bring back life”.

And indeed you exhibited stellar leadership when COVID was ravaging nations.

This is the time to address us on measures being implemented to bring back the economy.

Your silence is too loud for comfort.

We look forward to you addressing the nation sooner than later Mr President.

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