Cultural thoughts of America and Ghana (Part 3)

This is the third part of my thoughts on Ghanaian and American culture.  As previously mentioned I'm writing this for the second and third goals of the Peace Corps – to share American culture with the people of Ghana and the Ghanaian culture with the people of America.

These thoughts are my own and do not represent the opinion of the Peace Corps or the United States government.  They are only my simple and incomplete understanding.  However, I hope they bring at least some small insight between the two countries.

Please see previous posts for background.


Cultural comparison summary.


I don't think either America or Ghana (and to a greater extent Africa) is perfect. I don't think one should try to mimic the other, but I think that we can learn from each other.  (I'm not African but I'm going to use “we” in both cases otherwise I get a “we” verses “they” tone that I don't like  (besides I am officially a member of a local clan.)

I think America would be better if we found more of our happiness in mutual cooperation and support rather than searching for happiness in the stuff we buy or the focus on worldly success.  I think we should continue our ideals of independence and self-reliance while acknowledging, strengthening, and utilizing our mutual interdependence and community relationships.  We should revitalize volunteering and community involvement across the board.  (Stop watching so much TV.)

I think Ghana (and Africa) would be better if we stopped thinking that America is a sure place for success and realize that everything needed for success is close at hand.  We should first see how we can succeed here, rather than spend time and considerable resources going to a place where success is no more likely.

Ghanaians (and Africans) should strive for more personal responsibility, practice budgeting, build up local (human and financial) capital, improve time management and make useful investments for the long term success.  We need not abandon our culture of mutual cooperation and hospitality.  However, those in power or position should begin to abandon bribes and chopping as a way for personal enrichment and to fund projects.  Likewise individuals should not demand and depend so much on patronage.  (Also do not start watching a lot of TV.)

In Ghana the term “chop” can mean “taking something”.  In a recent conversation Roger explained how a school official said he was too busy to give him a receipt for some school fee.  Roger trusted the person and paid the fees with cash accepting that a receipt would be coming in the future.  Now the person says he did not pay and “chopped” the fees (took it for personal use).  Roger will fight this and I don't yet know the end result.  I have repeatedly heard stories of people being cheated when someone ran off with community funds or fees paid for some service.  A common attitude is acceptance that this is how things are and nothing can be done about it.

I should briefly explain again the concept of African time.  If a meeting, a wedding, or a football match is scheduled to start at say 10 then maybe it will start at 10:30 or 11 or 12.  People may start coming at 10, 10:30, 12 or later.  African time is nice and relaxed but is not conducive to effective business or development.


Ideas of development


I'm hardly a development expert, but I have recently talked with a number of people doing development in Ghana.  I've primarily sought ideas and solutions from local Ghanaians doing development.  As a Peace Corps volunteer my ideas are rather biased towards the local level and I don't pretend to speak on larger development activities. 

First, I would like to thank the many people who spent so much time discussing these ideas in the past few months that made this post possible.

Again, I want to stress that I believe that Ghana and Africa has everything needed to develop a robust successful economy that will enrich the country, the continent, and the world.  External funding and expertise may be necessary for some large projects, but should not be required for the vast majority of local development projects.  In my small part of Ghana I see many people successfully building up the local economy.  I believe Ghana and Africa will ultimately develop only by focusing on the success of local, rather than large scale, development projects.

As readers know, I'm not a huge fan of large corporations.  They have their place of course, but my experience in the United States is that the playing field (political influence and therefore laws and tax policy) has tilted far to their advantage at the expense of small business and individuals.   I'm fine with large corporations coming to Africa to set up business, but I don't see why they need to demand tax incentives and preferred treatment that is not given to individuals and small businesses who are the ultimate job creators.  If the business case is not there then it should not be undertaken - particularly at the expense of public funds that will lead to deeper public debt (governmental and personal).   (Of course corporations also demand such public money in the United States.)


Local capital


Capital resources is a major limiting factor to advancement.  International loans are not the solution, and may remain a major part of the problem for Ghana and Africa for some time to come.  Generous tax incentives to businesses that are ultimately paid by individuals (either through higher taxes or fewer government services such as education and health care) also are not the solution.

The solution needs to start at the personal and community level rather than with external aid or large national benefit packages to multinational corporations.  This means that individuals, families, and community groups need to be able to build up savings and make effective investment decisions.  The cultural heritage of cooperation and mutual support should not be completely abandoned but should also not be abused by those unwilling to work (see previous post).  The cultural heritage of chopping and brides should no longer be tolerated.  It should be weeded out and eliminated whenever possible.

History and culture, as previously mentioned, drives people to spend money as fast as possible rather than have to give it to family members for a more immediate need.  Local savings groups will most likely be necessary to provide some cultural insulation from the demands on readily available cash that must accumulate to some level before being useful.  However, this increases the opportunity to chop the funds.  The possibility that the fund might be “chopped” must also be eliminated because people have been “burnt” so many times in the past with micro-finance and savings groups that there is some resistance to the idea in many places.  Eliminating “chopping” will not be easy as some people will want the same opportunities for personal enrichment that others have recently taken.

Personal budgeting is critical to successful development.  I practice and encourage budgeting.  (I keep track of all expenses including the small bags of water that cost about 5 US cents, which may be overwhelming to many.)  When my spending is over budget I cut back until things are back on track.  Budgeting and other financial record keeping should be taught to and practiced by individuals, families, and organizations. 

Financial accountability and fiduciary responsibilities should also be taught and enforced to insure that funds are available and used appropriately.  Investment and spending decisions should be properly evaluated to insure that funds are properly used.  Grand projects that cannot be fully funded and will not have a good payback should not be started.

Ultimately, clear and open financial records reviewed by all will insure effective use of funds and drive effective economic success.


Training and investment


Accumulating fiscal capital is an important a key success factor.  Developing human capital is also important.  People in Ghana can be hard working and have a wealth of knowledge.  They are willing to take risks and learn new techniques.  However, what new techniques would be most useful to learn?  I'm trying a few agriculture things to see if they will work and I am doing research in other things see what might be useful.  But this is a long process.  I've worked with the USAID Farmer to Farmer program on training in composting and I know people training grafting and tree management techniques.  4H programs seem to be a particularly success method to introduce new approaches to agriculture, personal improvement, and business – through children who take success back to their parents.

In the end it is likely that the best solution will be to increase and improve all levels of education so that local children can take the improved practices back to their communities.  Therefore local opportunities will be needed to bring educated youth back to their community.  I think that increased and improved agricultural training and research would greatly benefit the county.  Agriculture can and should be made a path to prosperity in Ghana and Africa and more investment should be made in agricultural research and education.  Farmers should be able to be successful and gain wealth rather than just keep their heads above water.  Education in other sectors, such as information technology, is also important to drive a diverse and prosperous economy.


More to come ...


I split the post as it was long.  More to come next week.


Health


I'm back down in Accra and got a good checkup on the ears.  Still have some minor issue, but nothing that should require another trip.  I also am getting a ride up to Wa so I will not have to take the overnight bus.  I just need to catch a tro from Wa to Nandom so I can be at school on Monday.


Love always,
John

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