MY PREDICTIONS FOR 2015

I had wanted to write on the major highlights of 2014 but I shelved it simply because a lot of the issues I had in mind had been written covered by individuals with more competence than I do on my platforms.

  

Also, the issues are all known to us-Corruption, Inflation and the Cedis woeful performance on the international currency market vis-à-vis the Bank of Ghana’s desperate employment of measures which I, with my SSS economics, knew was bound to fail; the drug menace and yes, Black Stars abysmal, shameful and insulting performance and (in) actions of other ‘football people’ at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

There was the Dzamefe World Cup Commission of Inquiry and the crying episodes. Until the former Sports Minister, Elvis Ankrah and another Member of the Black Star Committee, Adu Asare, I hadn’t seen people with such gravitas crying on TV before. All the big men I’ve seen crying was at funeral grounds.

The tangible legacy we left in Brazil was a story for Hollywood to enact ($3M airlifted to players from Ghana as playing bonuses and fans who sought asylum in Brazil). On the heel of this fiasco came the badly managed axing of Coach Kwesi Appiah and the appointment of Israeli Avram Grant, which ‘patriotic’ Ghanaians thought was a betrayal of Ghana by the Ghana Football Association.

The unsolvable energy crisis (or is it challenge?) popularly referred to as dumsor came to blind us some more from seeing the ‘good works’ of President Mahama and his government. The excuses and dates for the attainment of full energy came and went, but still darkness prevailed, worsening even.

Adenta, the poster town for places with no water, witnessed a miracle last month-water started flowing through their tapes after a decade. There is hope my people for things to work.  I pray other towns in the outskirts of Accra will soon enjoy the ‘Adenta Experience’ as well.  

On the continent, Ebola visited, wrecking havoc in neighbouring nations such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Ghana was spared of any Ebola case and we are thankful. Boko Haram continued their madness, terrorizing Nigerians and causing panic among West African states.

A lot happened and more situations will arise in 2015 in Ghana, more specifically. Here are some of my predictions for 2015

1. Caustic Political Campaigning:

2015 will definitely be the year when the major political parties will intensify their attempts at winning the minds and hearts of ‘floating’ voters, as the 2016 General Elections cast its shadow. 

The incumbent NDC, under President Mahama, will attempt to win a second term in office. The NPP will, after being in opposition for 8 years, seek to wrestle power and offer the people of Ghana, the ‘better governance’ they have them humming.

With the elections of new executives out of the way for both parties-note that both parties have new leaders at the helm- the path has been cleared for full political assault on the ears of Ghanaians and also, on each other.

Judging by how close the 2008 and 2012 elections were, 2016 will be a very tight, extremely combative and fierce duel. As to whether a third force can spring a surprise, we wait to see.

In short, 2015 will be a busy campaign year for all parties. Trust the dirty campaigning and politicking to take place-mudslinging, secret tapes and brazen insults to up the ante.

2.  DUMSOR Shall Prevail: The merger between Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and the Ghana National Gas Company (GGC) seems to have been finalized though Ghana Gas boss, Prof. Kwesi Botchwey may disagree. The long awaited panacea to Ghana’s energy crises seem to have come on stream, finally and if we are to believe the government, there will abundant energy for the country to enjoy.

However, listening to officials of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) unable to provide a substantive time frame to end the dumsor crisis, one is left to wonder if ever the situation will be remedied. I hope the 31^st Night prayers offered by the President will be heard by God faster than that of any other Ghanaian.

3. Re-Shuffle in Government: It won't be a surprise should there be changes in government this year. As the President is entering it's second year and after blaming the Election Petition as the bane for the economy's snail paced march, he may want to inject some pace by tinkering with his cabinet and men in position.
Also,  some of those men who have helped the party must be rewarded and the best way is via political appointments so they can enjoy for the next two years.

4. Labour Unrest Will Be With Us Again: The Labour unrests which characterized last year shall continue this year. The likes of Ghana National Teachers Association (GNAT), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Ghana Medical Association (GMA), National Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and other labour groups will draw a strike timetable and follow it religiously, if government doesn’t play ball with them.

On Monday, the Ghana Medical Association fired a warning to government to honour its agreement or promises by responding to some of the demands made last year or else, they’ll put down their stethoscopes and white gowns and watch health seekers agonise. And we know once the GMA leads the way, the others will follow suit.

I don’t know if these labour groups have in their Constitution an article that obligates them to strike annually because I have not witnessed a calendar year where the country have gone strike free. This year won’t be an exception. Mark It!

5. Inflation Will Embrace Economy: With the government seeking to achieve most of her manifesto promises before next year, for political reasons, more money will be sunk into these projects and the net effect will be more money in circulation, high prices of goods and even depreciation of the Cedi.

Also, there will cases (allegations) of corruption. The media will uncover them, noises will be made, little effort will be spent in prosecuting culprits especially those in power or close to power.

6.    More Political Promises: If there’s one thing the Ghanaian politician has mastered effectively well is promising. And come 2015, there will be a flurry of them. Both parties will make grandiose claims which they know cannot be achieved. These hoodwinking antics of our political heads will play out in full this year. Lies will be sold to us, as to whether it will be bought is another whole story.

7. Cholera Will Vist Again: If there's one thing the Ghanaian learns it is nothing. Last year, the country was caught up in a fight against cholera. Many Ghanaians died simply because sanitation was taken for granted. 2015 won't be any different. There'll be an outbreak of Cholera and the citizens and political heads will be caught pants down

As our elders said, each day brings in its wake something new and 2015 will bring its own issues. I hope 2015 be a year where Ghana chalks more gains than losses on its balance sheet-both on the fiscal scene and all sectors of the economy. However, history has shown that we can’t seem to hold tight the gains. By the end of the year, just like Arsenal football team, the country will be struggling in many ways after starting with promise and enviable zeal.