Is this the Ghanaian mentality? No!

In his Feature Article of Tuesday, 1 January 2008, Disgrace At Ghana Airport (An Open Note to President Kufuor and his Ministers), the author made mention of the unworkable conditions of air conditions ant its concomitant troubles at the Kotoka International Airport. He went on to caution that the first impressions one gets when he or she enters a country are hard to forget.

The author, went on to show his dislike at how people are treated under Ghana‘s democracy, especially, “when people are paying money as taxes, duties, NHIL, airline fees, tariffs, property taxes and the many acronyms for governmental taxation!”

I agree with the author.

Although the VVIP lounge may be excellent not all our visitors pass through here. It was only fair that ALL the people benefited from their taxes not just a few at the VVIP lounge. Hence I find it difficult to comprehend those who have mistake the author to be a critic of the incumbent regime.

No doubt Ghanaians (and Africans in general) are responsible for our own demise. The mentality of the general populace warrants our governments and representatives to take us for granted.

Sadly enough many Ghanaians do not think or feel that the government (President) is or should be held responsible for the defects in the administration and the workings of government entities.

Well, do we or they even understand the concept of government and what it stands for? Unfortunately, the (ordinary) Ghanaian back home has some strange notion of government as well as the office of the President. They see government/authority as untouchable. I think this is the fundament al problem.

Why is it that any time someone brings to light an aspect of governance that needs correction or improvement he or she is taken out of context? Why do we brand or think anyone who sees a problem in the affairs of the state is anti-government?

I was reading through the comments section of the said article written by Dr. Danso (http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=136709&comment=0#com)where he was making a point about the mal-functioning of the air conditions at the Kotoka International airport.

This is what one commentator had to say,

? “WE NEED MONEY FOR MORE PRESSING CHALLENGES FACING THE COUNTRY IN HEALTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE! WE ARE ONLY 50 YEARS AFTER INDEPENDENCE AND EUROPE, AMERICA ECT HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR PROBLEMS 200 YEARS AGO AND THEY ARE PART OF OUR PROBLEMS SO IF YOU COME BACK FROM THESE COUNTRIES AND YOU WANT TO COMPARE FACILITIES THERE WITH OURS THEN YOU ARE NOT COMPARING LIKE TO LIKE”. (HARRY, 2008-01-01 04:50:07)

? “STOP THIS NONSENSE TALK PEOPLE ARE DYING IN THE AFRAM PLAIN FOR COMMON SNAKE BITE YOU ARE THINKN ABOUT AC” ( KWAA, 2008-01-01 05: 00:25)

As usual, many ignored the problem and started hurling insults at the writer, and one another. One contributor had tried to put things in a better perspective by praising the administration for the efforts being made and what they can do to make it even better,

“I have to say that the treatment at Kotoka in 2007 was extremely better than the first trip. People working in the airport were very polite and helpful and things worked much faster than before. Also leaving Ghana through Kotoka was a huge improvement. Last time I stood in line for about three hours struggling with my luggage and it was horrible. This time it only took about 15 minutes which was great. The only thing that I could see that really needs improvement is that people should not have to wait outside in the heat to meet people who arrive at Kotoka! There should be an inside area for them so they can at least sit. Also, the exit where you are lead to the hot and uncomfortable hall to wait, and with an international flight it is a 2 hour wait needs to be made more comfortable and air conditioning needs to be installed” ( Ann, 2008--01-01 09:36:34),

And there goes this writer countering with some bizarre remark,

“The writer of this article and those who share his views are just a bunch of fools. I have a question for them. Who will they hold responsible if they encounter the same non functioning units in the entry points of their host countries since most of them are living in the west? Answer please..........”( WATERMELLONMAN, 2008-01-01 10:17:56 2008-01-01 10:17:56

It is apparent that this writer, (WATERMELLONMAN) may not have even read before adding his or her comment. However, let’s assume that the commentator also wanted to make a point that, the government, in deed, should not be held responsible for every thing. This, I agree.

The President or government is not always to be blamed for everything. We should hold the local management (at the micro-level) responsible not the government sometimes for sheer negligence. However, the government still has the responsibility to put structures in place to make sure all levels of management become responsible to the people or organization. This is our understanding of effective leadership.

In this (Kotoka International Airport) case study one could argue that it is rather the Maintenance Department that ought to be blamed not the government per se; but are there structures in place to hold the local management accountable? Is there anything like periodic inspectors to grade the facilities at the Airport or other government (and even private) institutions? Believe me the Take-it-or-leave-it mentality of management does not help any country to progress. We should all be made accountable.

By not allowing the craftsmen and artisans who could repair and maintain the air conditions in working order we can say that somebody at the top of the organization is denying the craftsmen their right to work.

Again by justifying that air conditioning is only good for people in developed countries one is not only demeaning our country, Ghana but also suggesting that craftsmen and artisans are not needed in Ghana. For if there is no need for repairs then there should be no need for craftsmen and artisans.

Management need to use its work force to troubleshoot in the organization; in this case, the electronic and mechanical components of the Kotoka International Airport. By so doing they would be adding to experience and creating more jobs in the country.

Perhaps, if our nation had taken our craftsmen and artisans serious by now Ghana would be manufacturing these (air-conditions) items, and many of the deprived Ghanaians would come to understand that air conditioning is not a luxury at all but a necessity.

As some one has suggested, “These craftsmen are even far better than I have seen in America where the tendency is to replace components and not repair them. However many artisans and craftsmen in Ghana lack basic education, and will need further education and training to do high level global quality work as done in America."

What we (Ghanaians and Africans) need here is just the right kind of attitude and leadership.

It is about time Ghanaians (and Africans in general) understood that it is not disrespectful to disagree with a fellow especially an elderly person or even an institution. Nor is it wrong to constructively criticize government. We may feel uncomfortable when we are criticized but it is good for our growth. Praise can be cheap sometimes, and we should be wary of those who praise us all the time. No one is perfect, so we need to accept our mistakes and shortfalls, correct them, and move on.

Let’s face it, what is the point of installing air conditions if we are not going to put them on when needed? Or what point is appointing a CEO or administrators and technicians in the organization (in our case at the Kotoka international airport) if they cannot keep facilities in working condition? I thought this was simply commonsense. Why can’t we say thank you to the author of the article, Dr. Danso for bringing out the problem and move on to look for solutions?

Now tell me, those of you who think Ghana is not the West, (America or UK), therefore, we should not talk about air-conditioning- Did the government/administrative body of the airport place those air-conditions there for decoration /artistic purpose? Do they know or do we understand that the work output in a hot (enclosed) environment is far less than in an office or lounge with air-conditioning?

The fact that individuals cannot afford or does not have air conditioning in their homes or offices does not negate the fact that air conditioning is necessary for the well-functioning of the Kotoka International Airport.

The staff at the airport could achieve more and work better to produce optimum results if the atmosphere is cozy and conducive enough for them; and so would the customers feel comfortable in waiting patiently for their turn. Above all, our tourists or visitors would have a great respect for our country.

I find it absolutely narrow-minded for someone to argue that we don’t need air-conditioning in Ghana because it is not America or UK. So do I find it absurd to hear someone say that we need the money to “fix” our hospitals or for something else.

A problem is a problem and no mater where it occurred it must be solved immediately or it may lead to other bigger problems that can cost us dearly.

In the first place, America or the US did not start life with air-conditioning; they once were like us but they never felt comfortable in their old ways. They needed something that works and helps in productivity. So they supported the invention and use of Air Conditioning. We need change in Ghana too.

If Ghanaians will feel comfortable with the status-quo and be set in their old ways then we may be doomed forever. However, we don’t want to remain backward but grow and develop. We cannot improve if we cannot accept simple mistakes with dignity and correct them.

Note that even though the air-conditioning had not been repaired, the money had not been used to boost Ghana’s health system in any way, as others may want to suggest. The irony is, if the government of Ghana cares less about human conditions at the Kotoka International Airport which more or less openly tell donors how responsible government is or what the country is spending their gratis/grants on, they would not care an iota about Korle-bu, Komfo Anokye Hospital, the village elementary school or any of the other hospitals.

The dilapidation, decrepitude and decay of our institutions started with a small insignificant problem but as it were never addressed but ignored, today many of those institutions have become defunct or a liability on the state. In other words, I say that by not solving one (little) problem our government or organizations/ministries would not solve any other (bigger) problem. No problem is too small or too big, any way.

Let’s stop fooling ourselves with party affiliations and silly blindness and get real.