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GREAT EXPECTATIONS OF A UK
VISIT
By Gideon Sackitey
Accra, March 18, Ghanadot.com
- PRESIDENT John
Agyekum Kufuor last week,
after our momentous 50th Independence
Anniversary, made yet
a historic state visit to Buckingham Palace in
the United Kingdom. Ghanaians everywhere and
back home watching as
the events unfolded were so ecstatic, that
somehow Ghana was taking the centre stage on the
world media and for the RIGHT REASONS.
The visit was not only historic, but provided
that unique opportunity for Ghana to hold tight
the hand of Britain, a former colonial master,
to chart a new course of development and
cooperation. Like President Kufuor did say at
the various events on the
visit, " we are looking for partnership,
equal partnership and cooperation to move the
desires and aspirations of 50 years of
nationhood forward on a new pedestal."
Indeed that partnership was provided and the old
friendship was rekindled: Right from the visit
to the Buckingham Palace, the Dinner at
Guildhall, visit to Liverpool and
the several informal
business meetings that took place on the
sidelines of the visit.
The high point was on Wednesday when President
Kufuor and Prime Minister Tony Blair announced
to the world that the two countries will unveil
a 10-year development plan next year!
Do not forget, Queen
Elizabeth, The Second had promised the support
of the UK to Ghana in her fight to step out of
economic stagnation and quicken the pace of
development in al spheres! The plan for many is
the first time the United Kingdom is joining
forces with another sovereign republic to come
out with a joint development plan.
In making the announcement at Downing Street, Mr
Blair praised Ghana saying President Kufuor has
demonstrated strong leadership and shown
remarkable capability and prudence in making
good use of financial support granted to Ghana.
He observed that poverty has been reduced and
that the fight to raise the quality of life of
the people is on course.
President Kufuor also welcomed the project,
adding that Ghana’s aims to attain a middle
income status within the next decade and
diversify her economy beyond raw materials.
If implemented, the joint development plan would
be the UK’s boldest assistance to Ghana's
development since Governor Guggisberg’s 10-year
development plan in the 1920s. The closest was
Dr Kwame Nkrumah's seven-year development plan,
which saw the rising of several infrastructural
edifices, some of which still adorn our skyline
albeit in a shabby state.
The plan still in its infant stage and on which
information is hard to come by should see
Britain taking a more active role, in terms of
technology know-how, funding and logistics, in
Ghana’s development, "and as equal partners,” a
source close to the two stressed.
The plan is expected to turn around the
brain-drain issue and turn it into a formalised
win-win situation for both Ghana and the UK.
This will see health workers especially going
out to the UK in a formalised arrangement .There
would be greater investment in the training of
health workers too. The exchange of knowledge,
especially in the science and technology field
is expected to be high on the agenda.
The arrangement according to sources should see
the British government creating incentives and
actively encouraging the private sector in
Britain to invest in the Ghanaian economy as the
“gateway for Africa” and undertake some major
infrastructural projects in Ghana, to be funded
by the two countries.
“Britain seeks to be more actively engaged in
Ghana to compliment and supplement other efforts
but not to limit Ghana’s hands in how she moves
forward,” the source said.
Britain over the years has emerged as Ghana’s
largest bilateral development partner supporting
the economy in the areas of health, education,
sports, trade, manufacturing, industry, housing
and developing strong cultural ties.
Some people say this unusual tightening of
relationship stems from the combined commitment
of both Prime Minister Blair and Queen Elizabeth
II.
The Queen believes Britain should, upon
invitation, do more to help Ghana start the next
fifty years on a much better footing than was
done in 1957 when she showed up as a young lady
yet to catch on with
real life issues. The symbolic significance of
this may be to show that the first country,
south of the Sahara, to free itself of British
colonial rule can succeed.
Britain feels it has a shared responsibility in
this regard, especially, since Ghana has done so
much in the last decade or so to reassert itself
as the leading black star for the continent’s
peace, security and prosperity. Mr Blair also
does not want to see his extraordinary
investment of energy in the African agenda
whittled away after his departure.
Picking Ghana for particular attention, it is
said that the UK could do what Tony Blair’s
Commission for Africa’s report, launched since
11 March 2005 has so far failed to tangibly
achieve. Though the British Prime Minister led a
commendable crusade for Africa in getting
European leaders to sign an agreement on aid and
trade at the G8 summit at Gleneagles two years
ago, Mr Blair’s “vision” on aid risks being
deeply undermined according to the UK Charity
group, Oxfam.
It has urged him to make the fight against
poverty in Africa a priority for his time left
in office.
But this could only remain talk if concrete
measures are not put in place to ensure that we
carry on these sentiments beyond the euphoria
phase of anniversary celebrations and make sure
that all the players walk their talk.
The media could take the lead in calling the
attention of both parties to their promises. We
must hold them accountable on a regular basis to
make the use of the taxpayers' money worthwhile.
As is being argued by OXFAM, western nations and
powers usually go to bed after coming out with
nice and appreciative proposals and plans for
Africa since many just remain on paper.
Significant is the millions of dollars
that the Blair's Commission for Africa's Report
says is locked up in European banks and which
must be released to the continent to help move
it development and halt the degradation, hunger
and poverty and disease that permeate the
continent.
For the ordinary Ghanaian a few things come to
mind. This is the first time that our President
has been called to the Buckingham Palace and
given all the best rides there is. But alas, it
is how this changes the colour of water in
Bongo, Tumu, Wa, Navrongo; how
it removes the scourge of disease and squalor
and the many other debilitating situations that
a large portion of the 22.5 million face each
day that matters.
For others, it is to change the attitude of
Britons who set up shop in Ghana and repatriate
all their profits out of the country in the form
of dividend while for some it is making the
partnership talk so real that the decision to
travel to the UK is not looked at from a purely
economic point of view. Ghanaians have a proud
heritage and history, their decision to make do
with life where it leads them must be treated
with all the courtesies that our culture teaches
us to give to those who come our way.
Therefore, the ball is in your court President
Kufuor, continue to
give us reason to cheer!
Gideon Sackitey, Accra, March 18,2007,
Ghanadot.com
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