Debt relief only makes us lazy and irresponsible -Economist

A renowned economist, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson says Ghana as a developing country can never beg her way out of poverty. Rather, he said what is needed is sound policies and effective mobilisation and utilization of resources. “Our local effort is the solution. Debt relief will only make us irresponsible and lazy. It will make us more dependent.” Dr. Thompson was presenting a paper entitled, “Seven years into Poverty Reduction Strategy Programmes, (PRSP) Impacts, lessons and Challenges from Ghana,” at a workshop in Accra organised by the African Secretariat of Alliance for Poverty Eradication, ALPE. He observed that poverty is not a new thing in international development and recounted several economic strategies adopted by institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, (IMF), World Bank, (WB), United Nations, (UN), International Labour Organisation, (ILO) among others, since 1950’s to develop underdeveloped areas in the world. This includes the Structural Adjustment Programme, (SAP). He explained that SAP dominated economic policies throughout the 1980’s but failed to deal with the debts of poor countries. Dr. Thompson stated that in 1996 the IMF and WB responded and classified thirty-four countries as Highly Indebted Poor, (HIPC). In June 2001 the new government of Ghana opted for HIPC, but the four joint assessments by the WB and IMF on the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy I, (GPRS I) and GPRS II, and three assessments by government of Ghana, all focused on inputs by the state and left out the productive and civil sector. “We need to factor in what civil society is doing. Hence value of inputs is understated.” He cited the lack of political commitment and resources for the National Development Planning Commission, (NDPC) as a bane to proper planning and implementation. “It is unfortunate that just as the NDPC is entering Phase II the budget has been cut.” Dr. Thompson said Ghana must pay attention to political and bureaucratic corruption. “Over the medium to long term only high and equitable economic growth rates can lead to sustainable reductions in material poverty.” In his view, a jobless growth will only lead to more poverty and greater inequality, adding that GPRS should not be a substitute for national development since it is only tiny aspect. The Alliance for Poverty Eradication, (ALPE) is a programme of Danish NGOs funded by DANIDA. It aims at connecting civil society organisations working with and for the poor with the aim of providing a voice for the voicelss. I has been working , around the formulation and implementation of the PRSP in four focus countries including Ghana, Nicaragua and Honduras. According to the Programme Coordinator, ALPE Africa, Rita Ambadire the programme began in Ghana in 2004 and has since focused on engaging CSOs in poverty eradication at community level with specific marginalized groups.The President of the Ghana Society for Persons with Disability, (GSPD), Mr. Charles Apiagyei presented a study on Persons with Disabilities, (PWD) begging in the cities of Ghana. It focused on the central district of Accra, (Osu Klotey and Adabraka areas) and Kumasi, (Adum and Asafomarket areas). According to Mr. Apiagyei poverty is a cause and consequence of disability due to the fact that there is no enabling environment to participate in economic activity. “Majority of these people on the streets have little or no education and no employable skills.” He revealed that the beggars recognize the fact that their activity is demeaning and that something needs to be done. “Most of them do not want to be on the streets. They wish to leave but are concerned about alternatives. If they should be engaged in employment most of them would not beg.” He bemoaned that the few who have acquired some vocational skills in tailoring and handicraft are unable to apply their skills due to lack of start up capital. He suggested that now that the Disability Law is in place, government must be proactive in implementing it since it borders on the rights of PWD. “The question of stigmatization and discrimination need to be addressed as well as barriers to services preventing them from being functional.” Mr. Apiagyei noted that the human face given to the act of begging is a contributory factor to the inability of the agencies to enforce the law on begging. “The law on begging can be enforced but must recognize the need to give them alternatives.”