Daniel Nonor & Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh
25 June 2009
Contrary to the general assertion that Ghana's economy remains robust and resilient, a renowned Economist, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, has revealed that the structure of the country's economy had remained virtually unchanged for over a century.
This resulted in diminished employment opportunities, general hardships, and low living standards, especially among operators of the informal sector of the country.
According to him, "in 1920, cocoa, a primary commodity, accounted for 83% of Ghana's exports. Today, cocoa and gold, along with other primary commodities, account for roughly the same share of our merchandise exports, as they did in 1920.
There has been virtually no structural transformation of the economy to "decent work."
"Indeed, we have moved backwards over the years, as the share of manufacturing, for example, has declined from a historical high of 14% of GDP in 1975, to as low as 8.0% in 2009."
Dr. Thompson made these revelations at the inauguration of a 22-member National Committee on the Informal Economy (NCIE) in Accra, yesterday.
He added: "Whatever is left of our industrial activities is concentrated in a few urban centres. The industries that once dotted the national landscape have all died off, leading to the inevitable movement of people from rural to urban areas - a logical response to an illogical contraction in economic opportunities, which we seem not to fully understand."
Dr. Thompson, who is the International Project Expert on Local Economic Development of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), blamed the current congestions of the country's major cities and towns, to lack of proper planning by city and town authorities.
He pointed out that when you concentrate all major economic activities in one place, and call it a "central business district," do not be surprised or, worse, angry, when that place gets congested to the point of lawlessness.
Amazingly, "A few years ago when I was looking for shoe laces to buy, the only place I could find them was the Central Business District of Accra. Why couldn't I just walk to a neighbourhood store in Achimota, and buy a simple thing like shoe lace," Dr. Thompson asked.
The National Committee on the Informal Economy (NCIE), being initiated by the ILO and other social partners, is expected to play a major role in this salutary paradigm shift, and to share its findings, not only with the central government, but to help guide their policies and make them more effective and fruitful.
ILO experience in the districts, under the Local Economic Development (LED) Initiative, shows that collaboration, rather than confrontation, between local governments and the informal economy, was not only possible, but mutually beneficial.
In these districts, it has led to increased formalisation, such as registration and the payment of taxes, and a consequent increase in revenue for local and central governments.
The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr. Stephen Amoanor Kwao, who swore-in the members of the NCIE, pledged the commitment of the government to offer the necessary support to the committee, to initiate and develop the needed policy framework for the informal economy for employment creation, as well as poverty alleviation.
He urged the committee to fashion out targeted interventions in their policy framework, to support small businesses, especially those in the informal economy, to enhance and improve their competitiveness.
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