The sheer incompetence of our politicians and policy makers continues to amaze me. Often at times, I wonder why they keep implementing socio-economic policies without knowing the outcome. Recently, Atta Mills announced to government employees that good times await them. His administration has planed a new salary structure for government employees--scheduled to take effect from the month of July. The new salary structure, albeit noble, isn't clever--to say the least. Indeed, if this is an attempt from his administration to prevent government workers from going on strike, then I could understand the logic in this decision. I am sure that we all understand the financial implications of strikes. A country loses lots of money, when its workers decide to put their work down. A financial catastrophe which, I believe, a country like ours could be left spared. That said, I utterly disagree with the president's decision to implement this policy. The new salary structure might come across as a friendly gesture from his administration. At this time, it might even seem like the right thing to do. However, it lacks sense and sensibility if you ask me. Hence, my strong objection to it.



Under a normal circumstance, an improved salary should accompany a commodity price regulatory mechanism. Unfortunately, in the case of Ghana, there is no commodity price regulatory mechanism. This, as a result, of our laissez-faire market-economy. We know, of course, that those who benefit the most in such an economy are the property owners--the sellers. They determine the purchasing prices of their commodities without government interference. This, more or less, leaves the buyer without any protection whatsoever. A buyer of commodity could be taken advantage off by a seller without anybody raising a finger. Hence, the need for some kind of consumer protection laws in Ghana. Like, for instance, laws which would maintain a level of sanity and order in our market-economy. We shouldn't forget to remember that the term, laissez-faire, promotes anarchy. It's a term which implies that the governmental body should look on unconcerned, whilst a seller of commodity takes advantage of his/her buyer. This, I believe, could lead to no good. Simply because; the rich would only get richer at the expense of the poor.


In Ghana, the absence of commodity price control has sky-rocketed the cost of living. Everything is expensive. The absence of law and order in our market-economy has turned the country completely upside down. A building plot of land is sold for a ridiculous amount of money. As a result, only the rich could afford to build in Ghana. You see, a laissez-faire market-economy could only profit a country where unemployment is less. The Western countries could afford this type of government--hands-free--economy. Simply because; they have put in place certain socio-economic mechanisms, which make sure that the monies keep rotating within their systems. Both the employed and the unemployed are financially protected--none is left to suffer. Evidentially, there is an undiminished purchasing power within these Western countries, which their retailers could depend upon.
Ghana, on the other hand, doesn't protect its citizens financially. Those who have don't care about the poor. The poor, sadly, are needlessly left to suffer at the feet of the rich.



Therefore, if the poor, who have little to no money, aren't protected in our laissez-faire market-economy with all its greed, then I am afraid that we shouldn't complain, when the poor resort to crime to make a living. Our governmental body could increase the salary of government employees all that it wants. I am afraid, all the same, that this increment would prove a fruitless effort. Certainly, the increment in salary would cause retailers and property- owners to increase the prices of their services. In short, if our governmental body decides to increase worker's wages with 6%--retailers and property-owners would the same. They would also increase the prices of their services with 6% or even more. And, then what?
All these government employees, who just saw an increase in their salary, would be back to square one. The retailers and property-owners would take everything from them. Mind you, this is what happens in a laissez-faire market-economy--in which the service provider is the king/queen. By the way, the best way to curb inflation is through commodity price regulation.




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